On 13 July 2026, the Council adopted a proposal for an implementing decision amending the approval of the assessment of Estonia's recovery and resilience plan (RRP). The amendments follow a reasoned request from Estonia on 29 May 2026, citing objective circumstances that made parts of the original plan no longer achievable. The changes affect 14 measures, including two that are amended to implement better alternatives and 12 that are revised to reduce administrative burden while maintaining objectives. Three clerical errors in the descriptions of measures related to broadband networks, railway renovation, and labour market measures are also corrected. The estimated total cost of Estonia's amended RRP is EUR 953,380,000, but the financial contribution remains unchanged at EUR 953,184,800. The Commission's positive assessment of the RRP is unaffected by these amendments.
The amendments concern measures across several areas. Measure 1.4 on skills reform for digital transformation of businesses and measure 6.1 on comprehensive change in health care organisation are amended to implement better alternatives. Twelve other measures (1.1, 1.3, 1.5, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 4.2, 4.3, 4.6, 4.7, 5.3.a, and 8.3) are amended to reduce administrative burden while still achieving their objectives. The three clerical corrections apply to measure 3.8 (very high capacity broadband networks), measure 5.3.b (renovation of railway from Rapla to Lelle), and measure 6.6 (labour market measures to reduce youth unemployment).
The decision maintains the original financial envelope for Estonia under the Recovery and Resilience Facility. The unchanged contribution of EUR 953,184,800 means that the amendments do not alter the overall EU budgetary commitment. The Council's approval follows the standard procedure for RRP amendments, which requires a qualified majority vote. The next step is the formal adoption of the implementing decision by the Council, after which Estonia can proceed with the revised measures. The amendments are expected to reduce administrative burdens for implementing authorities while keeping the plan's overall objectives intact, benefiting both the Estonian government and EU institutions overseeing the RRF implementation.