The European Commission has today endorsed a positive preliminary assessment of Malta’s payment request for €52.3 million (net of pre-financing) in grants under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), the key instrument at the heart of NextGenerationEU.
President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said: “ I have good news for Malta. Given its successful first set of reforms and investments, the country is ready to receive a first payment under NextGenerationEU. Once Member States give their greenlight, Malta will receive over 50 million euros as a result of its good progress on its national recovery and resilience plan, which is worth nearly 260 million euros. Malta has been working, for example, on strengthening the fight against corruption and increasing the independence of the judiciary.Malta has also stepped up mapping investments in industrial innovation and improved waste management, to the benefit of the circular economy. Finally, we welcome the important measures to make school buildings more energy-efficient. Keep up the good work, Malta! The Commission stands by your side, on your way to recovery.”
The Maltese recovery and resilience plan includes a wide range of investment and reform measures organised in 6 thematic components. The plan will be supported by €258.3 million in grants, 13% of which (€41.1 million) was disbursed to Malta in pre-financing on 17 December 2021.
Next steps
The Commission has now sent its positive preliminary assessment of Malta’s fulfilment of the milestones and targets required for this payment to the Economic and Financial Committee (EFC), asking for its opinion. The EFC’s opinion, to be delivered within a maximum of four weeks, should be taken into account in the Commission’s assessment. Following the EFC’s opinion, the Commission will adopt the final decision on the disbursement of the financial contribution, in accordance with the examination procedure, through a comitology committee. Following the adoption of the decision by the Commission, the disbursement to Malta can take place.
The Commission will assess further payment requests by Malta based on the fulfilment of the milestones and targets outlined in the Council Implementing Decision, reflecting progress on the implementation of the investments and reforms.
File photo: President of European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and Prime Minister Robert Abela
