On Thursday, 8 September, the European Commission endorsed the Dutch recovery plan, which has a budget of €4.7 billion solely in the form of grants under the NextGenerationEU European Recovery Plan.
According to the European Commission, 48% and 26% of the plan’s financial allocation will contribute to the green and digital transitions, respectively.
The Dutch authorities notably plan to invest more in renewable energy sources (€690 million), energy efficiency, and mitigating the impact of nitrogen emissions through a nature restoration scheme. In addition, they have announced a specific piece of legislation that will allow individuals to sell self-produced renewable energy.
On her trip to Rotterdam—where she met with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte—President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen praised the project that aims to clean up inland waterway transport in the Netherlands.
Regarding the digital transition, investments in quantum technology (270 million), artificial intelligence, digital education, and the digitalisation of government are expected to be made.
Mrs von der Leyen also noted that the most important part of the Dutch plan would entail investing €1.4 billion in housing, notably to reduce energy bills and make the real estate market more affordable.
Mr Rutte indicated that the Dutch plan—which already incorporates specific recommendations made by the European Commission as part of the REPowerEU strategy that was presented in May (see EUROPE 12960/9)—would also contribute to reducing the Netherlands’ dependence on Russian fossil fuels.
The Council of the European Union now has one month to approve the Dutch recovery plan. Then, all that will be left will be the Hungarian recovery plan, which is still the subject of tough negotiations between the European Commission and Viktor Orbán’s government.
See the proposal for a decision to approve the Dutch recovery plan: https://aeur.eu/f/30b
and its annex: https://aeur.eu/f/30c (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)