The European Commission has endorsed a positive preliminary assessment of Italy's second payment request for €21 billion, of which €10 billion of grants and €11 billion of loans (net of pre-financing) under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), the key instrument at the heart of NextGenerationEU.

Italy submitted to the Commission, in June, a payment request based on the achievement of the 45 milestones and targets selected in the Council Implementing Decision for the second instalment. They cover reforms in the areas of public employment (as part of a broader reform of public administration), public procurement, teaching profession, tax administration and territorial healthcare. The payment request includes investments in key policy areas including ultra-broadband and 5G, research and innovation, tourism and culture, hydrogen, urban regeneration and digitalisation of schools. This payment request also includes an investment to support the reform of the justice system and reduce the backlog of cases.

With their request, the Italian authorities provided detailed and comprehensive evidence demonstrating the fulfilment of the 45 milestones and targets. The Commission has thoroughly assessed this information before presenting its positive preliminary assessment of the payment request.

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