The European Commission has positively assessed Portugal’s eighth payment request under the Recovery and Resilience Facility, clearing the way for a disbursement of EUR 1.1 billion under NextGenerationEU, subject to the remaining procedural steps. The assessment covers EUR 828.8 million in grants and EUR 286 million in loans, and concludes that Portugal has satisfactorily completed the 20 milestones and 14 targets set out in the Council Implementing Decision. The reforms and investments linked to the request span digitalisation in healthcare and education, renewable energy, budget management and the decarbonisation of industry, alongside measures to modernise public financial management, improve tax efficiency, improve justice system performance and monitor energy poverty. Flagship measures include installing battery storage capacity in Madeira through upgrades to multiple hydroelectric plants, and the digitalisation of the Azores health service via the mySaúde Açores app, which has over 38,000 users. The Commission has sent its preliminary assessment to the Economic and Financial Committee, which has four weeks to provide its opinion; payment can follow after that opinion and the adoption of a payment decision by the Commission. The release also notes that, with the Facility due to close at end-2026, Member States must implement outstanding milestones and targets by August 2026 and submit final payment requests by end-September 2026.
European Commission 2026-01-23
European Commission approves Portugal’s eighth Recovery and Resilience Facility payment request for EUR 1.1 billion
The European Commission approved Portugal's eighth payment request under the Recovery and Resilience Facility, enabling a EUR 1.1 billion disbursement, contingent on further procedural steps. This confirms Portugal's completion of 20 milestones and 14 targets, with reforms in digitalisation, renewable energy, and public financial management, and awaits the Economic and Financial Committee's opinion before final payment authorization.