BRUSSELS, BELGIUM / EuroWire / — The European Commission has disbursed €12.8 billion to Italy under NextGenerationEU, advancing the country’s recovery and resilience plan after a positive assessment of completed commitments. The payment marks Italy’s ninth instalment under the Recovery and Resilience Facility. It also represents the ninth and penultimate payment linked to Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan, which channels EU support into reforms and investment.
Italy submitted its ninth payment request on December 30, 2025. The Commission gave a positive preliminary assessment on April 29, 2026. The disbursement followed the completion of 50 objectives, according to official EU and Italian government information. These covered 36 milestones and targets for grants and 14 milestones and targets for loans.
The latest payment takes Italy to about 85% of the funds allocated under its recovery plan. The plan has a value of €194.4 billion, including €71.8 billion in grants and €122.6 billion in loans. The Recovery and Resilience Facility links payments to verified progress rather than spending alone. Member states receive funds after they meet agreed milestones and targets.
Funding tied to completed objectives
The ninth instalment covers reforms and investments across several public policy areas. They include public administration, justice, taxation, public procurement, education, employment, healthcare, tourism, culture, energy and sustainable mobility. The measures also include action on undeclared work, research, agriculture and the circular economy. EU assessments said Italy maintained earlier reforms linked to previous payment requests.
The completed steps include digital work in the justice system and public administration. They also include measures on late payments by public bodies, tax evasion and competition policy. Italy reported progress on labour market programmes and vocational training. Other targets covered clean vehicles for the National Fire Brigade, historic parks and gardens, and digital tools for healthcare.
Plan supports reform and investment
Italy’s recovery plan ranks among the largest national programmes funded through NextGenerationEU. The Council of the European Union approved the original plan in July 2021. Italy later updated it, including through a REPowerEU chapter, to add energy measures. The full plan includes 150 investment streams and 66 reforms. It directs 39% of funding toward climate objectives and 25.6% toward digital transition.
The programme forms part of the EU post-pandemic recovery framework. Its funds support projects meant to strengthen resilience, competitiveness and public services. Italy must complete remaining milestones and targets within the timetable set by the EU framework. The ninth payment keeps the country near the end of its agreed funding path, with one further instalment remaining under the plan.