NRRP Steering Committee meeting to verify implementation of milestones and targets for fifth instalment

The steering committee for the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) met at Palazzo Chigi today. The purpose of the meeting, called and chaired by Minister for European Affairs, Southern Italy, Cohesion Policy and the NRRP Raffaele Fitto and attended by the Ministers and Undersecretaries involved, was to verify achievement of the 52 milestones and targets linked to the fifth instalment of Italy’s new plan, which was approved by the European Council on 8 December. 

Following a detailed review, the steering committee acknowledged the implementation status of the milestones and targets required for the fifth instalment, which include important measures such as the awarding of water industry contracts as well as railway line electrification in the Mezzogiorno and the Salerno-Reggio Calabria rail link. With regard to environmental measures, actions are planned to upgrade pipelines and purification systems and to build waste recovery facilities. With regard to the national education system, a reform is set to come into force regarding how the school system is organised, and the awarding of all contracts for new school buildings is also planned. 
Significant accomplishments are also planned with regard to digitalisation, with particular reference to the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Justice, the Council of State, INPS [National Social Security Institute] and INAIL [National Institute for Insurance against Accidents at Work].

“After promptly verifying that all milestones and targets for the fifth instalment have been met, following the European Council’s final approval of the new NRRP” – explained Minister Fitto – “today’s steering committee meeting will allow the Government to go ahead with the payment request by the end of the year, in order to continue supporting economic growth and use the new investments included in the plan to achieve the goals of strengthening industrial competitiveness, the transition towards clean energy and Italy’s energy independence”.

The steering committee’s findings will in fact allow Italy to formally submit its payment request for the fifth instalment, worth EUR 10.5 billion, to the European Commission by 31 December 2023, being the only Member State to do so thus far. In the coming months, this will add to the EUR 16.5 billion for the fourth instalment that is on track to be paid by the end of the year.

“Payment of the third instalment and the imminent payment of the fourth, verification of the implementation status of the milestones and targets for the fifth instalment and, above all, the final approval of Italy’s new NRRP, safeguarding financial resources and planned works projects, implementing reforms and supporting new strategic investments for Italy’s structural growth, bring what has been a year of positive work on the NRRP to a close – underlined Minister Fitto – This work has been carried out by President Meloni and the entire Government, cooperating constructively with the European Commission, with the macro objective of concretely implementing projects in order to provide a tangible response to the legitimate expectations of businesses and Italians through efficient and effective government action”.

[Courtesy translation]