MEPs commend Greece on its use of the Recovery and Resilience Facility

A delegation of MEPs have just concluded a mission to Greece to gather information on the country’s use of the Recovery and Resilience Facility funds.

At the end of mission, the head of the delegation, Siegfried MUREŞAN (EPP, RO) said:

“We have spent a few insightful days in Greece, closely examining the implementation of its national Recovery and Resilience Plan, ‘Greece 2.0’. We had the opportunity to meet with national authorities and key stakeholders, and to witness first-hand the tangible and concrete results of Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) funding through visits to two significant projects. These projects stand as clear examples of Greece’s success in mobilising EU funds for impactful outcomes. We saw on the ground how the recovery funds are contributing to local and regional growth and to improving the life of Greek citizens. I applaud the Greek authorities—both at national and local levels—as well as the many stakeholders involved in delivering on the commitments of this ambitious plan.

‘Greece has emerged as a standout example among EU countries when it comes to the implementation of the RRF. With an absorption rate of over 50%, it is the largest beneficiary when it comes to the amount of money it receives per capita. Greece is a frontrunner in terms of implementation, and has adapted quickly and efficiently in mobilising these funds. This performance reflects concrete progress in boosting growth and modernising the Greek economy in the face of the current challenges, from the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic to the ongoing impact of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.”

The delegation of six MEPs from the Working Group scrutinising the RRF was in Athens from 14 to 16 April. It was composed of:

Siegfried Mureșan, (EPP, RO) ECON,

Karlo Ressler, (EPP, HR) BUDG,

Georgios Aftias, (EPP, EL) BUDG-ECON

Matjaž Nemec, (S&D, SI) BUDG

Enikő Győri, (PfE, HU) ECON

Anouk van Brug, (Renew, NL) BUDG-ECON

The delegation attended meetings at the Ministry of Finance, the Hellenic Court of Audit, and the Hellenic Parliament. They also held talks with the Governor of the Greek Recovery and Resilience Agency, and with representatives from the Central Union of Municipalities in Greece, the General Confederation of Workers of Greece, the Hellenic Federation of Enterprises, and the Foundation for Economic and Industrial Research.

The MEPs also visited two projects financed by the RRF:

· the “Koumoundouros” Extra High Voltage Centre (EHVC) of the Independent Power Transmission Operator (IPTO), which is being upgraded to boost energy system security and increase the potential for electricity generation; and

· DEMO Pharmaceuticals, a company that benefits from research and development investments financed by the RRF.