01/03/2024 (Agence Europe) – Following a request made on 10 November 2023, the European Commission announced on Friday 1 March that it had made a first payment to Finland of €202 million in the form of grants under the ‘Recovery and Resilience Facility’, the main instrument of the European Recovery Plan, Next Generation EU. Finland’s request covered 20 milestones relating to reforms and investments in health, ecological transition, research, and innovation and learning. Payments are subject to the achievement of these milestones. The Finnish application received a positive preliminary assessment from the European Commission and a favourable opinion from the Economic and Financial Committee of the Council of the European Union. Finland’s national recovery and resilience plan will be financed by €1.95 billion in the form of grants. (EV)