The Netherlands on Friday officially submitted to the European Commission its national recovery and resilience plan, its investment and reform programme, for which it should receive 4.7 billion euros in European grants from the EU’s post-Covid recovery instrument.
The government in The Hague is the last one to submit its plan, most member States having already done so more than a year ago, including Belgium. Many countries have already received a first tranche of funds in addition to the “pre-financing” linked to each plan.
The creation of the Dutch plan experienced a significant delay following the fall of the government in January 2021, followed by elections and the difficult formation of a new executive. The plan includes reforms to the labour market, real estate, pensions and health care, and in the fight against aggressive tax planning.
The Commission must now assess the plan and recommend that member States give it the green light. Only one other plan has not yet been approved, Hungary’s. Budapest had submitted it in May 2021, but the Commission feels it is not doing enough against corruption and for the proper allocation of European funds.
