Proposal for a Council Implementing Decision on the approval of the assessment of the recovery and resilience plan for Austria

Summary:

Proposal for a Council Implementing Decision - tabled by the European Commission on 21 June 2021 - concerning the endorsement of an assessment to Austria's National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP).

Further information:

National Recovery and Resilience Plans are prepared by the Member States of the European Union (EU) and comprise a package of reforms and investment initiatives to be implemented by 2026 and supported by the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). These plans are assessed by the European Commission and approved by the Council of the European Union. The assessment is based on criteria set out in Regulation (EU) 2021/241 - also known as the RRF Regulation.

A positive assessment of the Austrian NRRP was adopted by the Commission on 21 June 2021. It recommends that the Council endorses the disbursement of €3.5 billion in grants under the RRF over the period 2021-2026. The Commission's analysis considered, in particular, whether the investments and reforms contained in Austria's plan support the green and digital transitions; contribute to effectively addressing challenges identified in the European Semester; and strengthen its growth potential, job creation and economic and social resilience.

The proposed Decision was adopted by the Council of the European Union at a meeting on 13 July. The first €450 million - equivalent to 13% of the grant and loan component of the country's financial allocation - was disbursed by the Commission on 28 September.

• Primary Source

News

EurActiv, 29/09/2021: ​​Austria receives first tranche from EU recovery fund https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/short_news/%e2%80%8b%e2%80%8baustria-receives-first-tranche-from-eu-recovery-fund/

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Official

EUR-LEX: SWD(2021)160: Staff Working Document accompanying the Proposal - Analysis of the recovery and resilience plan of Austria https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=SWD:2021:160:FIN

European Commission: Recovery and Resilience Facility: National Recovery and Resilience Plans https://ec.europa.eu/info/business-economy-euro/recovery-coronavirus/recovery-and-resilience-facility_en#national-recovery-and-resilience-plans

Austrian Ministry of Finance: Press Release, 05/05/2021: Austria's plan for the EU Recovery Fund https://www.bmf.gv.at/en/press/press-releases/2021/May-2021-1/Austria-s-plan-for-the-EU-Recovery-Fund.html

European Commission: Press Release, 21/06/2021: NextGenerationEU: European Commission endorses Austria's recovery and resilience plan https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_21_3052

European Commission: Questions and answers: European Commission endorses Austria's recovery and resilience plan (21 June 2021) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/qanda_21_3122

European Commission: Statement by President von der Leyen on Austria's recovery and resilience plan (21 June 2021) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/statement_21_3132

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 13/07/2021: Council gives green light to first recovery disbursements https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2021/07/13/council-gives-green-light-to-first-recovery-disbursements/

European Commission: Press Release, 28/09/2021: NextGenerationEU: European Commission disburses €450 million in pre-financing to Austria https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_21_4067

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