The National Recovery Plan is the programme through which Czechia draws funds from the Recovery and Resilience Facility, the main pillar of the NextGenerationEU programme. The European Union set up the facility in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, to help member states mitigate its economic and social impacts and to support the green and digital transformation of economies. The total allocation of the Czech plan is roughly 214.6 billion crowns, of which the largest part went to the Physical Infrastructure and Green Transition pillar, which includes transport among other things [1][2][3].
The European Commission has provisionally assessed positively the seventh payment request of 951 million euros, roughly 23 billion crowns. It is the last payment under the plan. Czechia submitted the final request on 31 August and the Commission concluded that it had met the 13 milestones and 25 targets set for this payment. The money must still be confirmed by the Economic and Financial Committee of the EU Council, and the Ministry of Industry and Trade expects it to be paid out in December 2026 [1][2][3].
According to the Commission and the Permanent Representation of the Czech Republic to the EU, the payment will support the development of community energy, the electrification of Prague public transport, quantum communication infrastructure, science and universities including two new university campuses, affordable rental housing, teachers' digital skills and the construction of the Czech Oncology Institute at Motol University Hospital. It also covers renovations and construction in more than 130 housing projects worth 350 million euros, energy-saving renovations of public buildings and more than 700 childcare and social service facilities [1][2][3].
After approval of the last payment, all milestones and targets of the plan will, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, be met and recognised. Checks and audits verifying the use of the money may continue. Minister of Industry and Trade Karel Havlíček (ANO) said the plan was among the priorities of the Czech Republic and that thanks to joint effort the set commitments were met [1][2].
Chronology
- — Czechia failed to submit its national nature restoration plan to the European Commission in time; the ministry has not yet sent it. → Ekolist.cz Ekonomický deník
- — The European Commission provisionally approved the seventh and final payment of 23 billion crowns (951 million euros) to Czechia from the National Recovery Plan, intended among other things for the electrification of Prague public transport, quantum communication infrastructure, affordable rental housing and the construction of the Czech Oncology Institute at Motol University Hospital. → ČTK / České noviny Novinky.cz