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

Summary:

Proposal for a Council Implementing Decision - tabled by the European Commission on 19 July 2021 - concerning the endorsement of an assessment to Czech Republic'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.

The plan was submitted by the national authorities on 2 June 2021. A positive assessment of the Czech NRRP was adopted by the Commission on 19 July 2021. It recommends that the Council endorses the disbursement of €7 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 Czechia'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 6 September. The first €915 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

Commentary and Analysis

Visegrad Info, 28/01/2021: National recovery plans in the V4: An uneasy exercise https://visegradinfo.eu/index.php/collaborative/608-national-recovery-plans-in-the-v4-an-uneasy-exercise

CEE Bankwatch Network: Blog, 19/04/2021: Czech recovery plan a few steps away from being on the right path https://bankwatch.org/blog/czech-recovery-plan-a-few-steps-away-from-being-on-the-right-path

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News

EurActiv, 18/05/2021: Czech government approves national recovery plan https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/short_news/czech-government-approves-national-recovery-plan/

Radio Prague, 19/07/2021: EU Commission endorses Czech Republic’s €7bn recovery and resilience plan https://english.radio.cz/eu-commission-endorses-czech-republics-eu7bn-recovery-and-resilience-plan-8723453

Reuters, 19/07/2021: EU Commission approves Czech recovery plan of 7 billion euros, sets conditions https://www.reuters.com/article/us-eu-recovery-czech-idUSKBN2EP0RF

Radio Prague International, 07/09/2021: National Recovery Plan approved, concerns about financial irregularities remain https://english.radio.cz/national-recovery-plan-approved-concerns-about-financial-irregularities-remain-8727848

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Official

EUR-LEX: SWD(2021)211: Staff Working Document accompanying the Proposal - Analysis of the recovery and resilience plan of Czechia https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=SWD:2021:211: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

Czech Government: Newsroom, 17/05/2021: Government approved proposal of National Recovery Plan for nearly 200 billion, agreed with further easement of epidemic control measures https://www.vlada.cz/en/media-centrum/aktualne/government-approved-proposal-of-national-recovery-plan-for-nearly-200-billion--agreed-with-further-easement-of-epidemic-control-measures-188479/

European Commission: Press Release, 02/06/2021: Recovery and Resilience Facility: Czechia submits official recovery and resilience plan https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_21_2811

European Commission: Press Release, 19/07/2021: NextGenerationEU: European Commission endorses Czechia's €7 billion recovery and resilience plan https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_21_3745

European Commission: Questions and answers: European Commission endorses Czechia's €7 billion recovery and resilience plan (19 July 2021) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/qanda_21_3746

European Commission: Statement by President von der Leyen on Czechia's recovery and resilience plan (19 July 2021) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/statement_21_3781

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 06/09/2021: Recovery fund: ministers welcome assessment of Czechia’s and Ireland’s plans https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2021/09/06/recovery-fund-ministers-welcome-assessment-of-czechia-s-and-ireland-s-plans/

EurActiv, 06/09/2021: EU ministers clear Irish and Czech recovery plans https://www.euractiv.com/section/economy-jobs/news/eu-ministers-clear-irish-and-czech-recovery-plans/

European Commission: Press Release, 28/09/2021: NextGenerationEU: European Commission disburses €915 million in pre-financing to Czechia https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_21_4912

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