On Tuesday 21 November, the European Commission approved the revised post-Covid-19 recovery plans for six EU countries: Poland, Greece, Romania, Croatia, Bulgaria and Finland. Apart from the Bulgarian plan, these plans contain a ‘REPowerEU’ chapter designed to accelerate the energy transition and reduce dependence on Russian hydrocarbons.
Poland. Now with a budget of €59.8 billion, including €34.5 billion in loans, Poland’s revised plan will allocate more than 46% of the funds to the climate transition, notably through reforms to speed up the granting of permits for the production of renewable energies and their connection to the electricity grid, as well as investment in the necessary skills (see EUROPE 13241/2).
When the Polish plan was adopted in June 2022 (see EUROPE 12974/6), the Council of the EU decided that no payments would be made until certain reforms had been put in place, in particular to guarantee the independence of the judiciary and strengthen the protection of the EU’s financial interests (use of the Arachne database). These conditions remain valid with the revised plan. Following the defeat of the PiS party in the October parliamentary elections, the possible political changeover in Poland could lead to the necessary reforms being implemented. However, pre-financing of €5.1 billion could be available for specific measures under the 'REPowerEU' chapter.
See the Commission’s positive assessment of the revised Polish plan: https://aeur.eu/f/9nk
Greece. Now worth almost €36 billion, including €17.73 billion in loans, the revised Greek plan provides for the energy renovation of public and private buildings, the development of biomethane and green hydrogen, and the modernisation of the electricity distribution network. A housing policy for 18-39 year olds is also planned (see EUROPE 13240/17).
See the Commission’s positive assessment of the revised Greek plan: https://aeur.eu/f/9nl
Romania. With almost €28.5 billion now available, including €14.9 billion in loans, the revised Romanian plan increases the budgetary allocation for the climate transition. Seven new investments will accelerate the deployment of renewable energy sources, the pace of energy efficiency renovations and the retraining of the workforce (see EUROPE 13246/22).
See the Commission’s positive assessment of the revised Romanian plan: https://aeur.eu/f/9nm
Croatia. Now worth €10 billion, including €4.2 billion in loans, the revised Croatian plan aims to promote energy efficiency in buildings, accelerate and increase the production of renewable energies (sustainable biomethane, renewable hydrogen, geothermal energy), combat energy poverty, strengthen clean transport, retrain the workforce and improve the security of the energy supply (see EUROPE 13241/2).
See the Commission’s positive assessment of the revised Croatian plan: https://aeur.eu/f/9nn
Bulgaria. With €5.7 billion now available in the form of grants alone, the revised Bulgarian plan will stimulate the ecological transition to the tune of 57.5% of the overall financial allocation.
More information on the revised Bulgarian plan (in Bulgarian): https://aeur.eu/f/9no
Finland. Now with €1.95 billion in the form of grants alone, the revised Finnish plan will allocate more than 52% of its funding to the climate transition (see EUROPE 13266/25). In particular, it plans to accelerate the deployment of renewable energies, including renewable hydrogen, to decarbonise industry and to invest in the value chains of the ‘net-zero emissions’ industry.
See the Commission’s positive assessment of the revised Finnish plan: https://aeur.eu/f/9nr (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)