Fitto at the European Parliament: More Transparency and Flexibility in Recovery Plans

During a high-stakes plenary session of the European Parliament, Executive Vice-President for Cohesion and Reforms, Raffaele Fitto, raised strong concerns over the pace and transparency of the implementation of National Recovery and Resilience Plans (NRRPs) funded under the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF).

“The implementation report raises serious questions regarding the monitoring and transparency of fund use,” Fitto stated, pointing to gaps in oversight and control mechanisms. He noted that while 24 Member States have submitted updated data on their 100 largest recipients of RRF funds, the Commission is still following up with the remaining countries to ensure full accountability.

As the legal deadline for completing all milestones and targets—August 2026—draws nearer, Fitto urged national governments to act decisively. “We need Member States to urgently review their plans and retain only those measures that are realistically achievable within the timeframe,” he said. For projects that risk being delayed, Fitto outlined a series of flexible alternatives.

Among the options: scaling up already successful initiatives, funding strategic projects awarded the STEP label, and transferring resources to InvestEU or other EU programmes such as satellite communications. He also suggested splitting complex projects, so that elements not deliverable by 2026 could be financed through national budgets or other EU instruments with extended timelines—such as the Cohesion Fund.

Fitto emphasized the need for simplification and rapid plan revision to avoid losing momentum. “If the plans are simplified and revised quickly, we are confident that the RRF will reach its objectives within the set deadlines,” he affirmed.

He also highlighted a forward-looking opportunity: the potential for Member States to make voluntary contributions to a future European Defence Industry Programme, aligning unused funds with emerging EU priorities in security and defence.

The call for transparency, flexibility, and pragmatism was echoed widely in Parliament. Many MEPs voiced support for extending the deadline for mature projects by 18 months, acknowledging the risk that critical infrastructure, digital, and social projects may remain incomplete without decisive action.

As implementation remains behind expectations—with only 28% of targets fully achieved and over €300 billion still awaiting disbursement—Fitto’s message was clear: national and European institutions must work in concert to ensure that recovery funds deliver the long-term impact promised when the RRF was first launched.