On 30 July 2026, the Council adopted an implementing decision approving an amended recovery and resilience plan (RRP) for Belgium, following a reasoned request from the Belgian government on 29 May 2026. The amendment revises 49 measures that are partially no longer achievable due to objective circumstances, adds one new investment, and reduces the loan support ceiling from EUR 230.1 million to EUR 209.6 million, while keeping the overall financial contribution unchanged at EUR 5,033,950,235.
The amended plan reflects a broad set of adjustments. Of the 49 modified measures, 39 are streamlined to reduce administrative burden, while others address unforeseen technical difficulties (2), changes in compliance conditions (1), phased rollout (1), lack of a legal framework (1), temporary resource constraints (1), and better alternatives to achieve the original ambition (4). The freed-up resources are redirected to a new investment, 'Voluntary transfer to IRIS² satellite programme' (I-5.22), and to scale up three existing measures (I-3.08, I-5.19, I-5.20). Two clerical errors affecting milestone 185 (investment I-5.10) and target 7 (investment I-1A) are also corrected.
The Commission assessed the amended plan positively, confirming that the climate and digital objectives remain intact: climate measures account for 40% of the total allocation, and digital measures for 27.15%. The Council's decision formalises the amendment, which does not alter the total grant allocation but reduces the loan component.
The amendment follows a standard review procedure under the Recovery and Resilience Facility, allowing member states to request adjustments when original targets become unattainable. Belgium's request is one of several such revisions across the EU, as countries adapt their plans to changing economic and technical circumstances. The new IRIS² investment aligns with the EU's space programme, which aims to provide secure satellite communications for governmental and commercial users.
For Belgian authorities, the revised plan reduces administrative burdens and allows more flexibility in implementation, potentially accelerating the rollout of remaining measures. For EU institutions, the amendment demonstrates the facility's adaptability, though it also raises questions about the credibility of initial targets. For businesses and public bodies benefiting from the affected investments, the changes may alter project timelines and funding conditions, particularly for those linked to the scaled-up measures. The reduced loan ceiling means less borrowing capacity for Belgium, but the unchanged grant allocation preserves the overall fiscal support. The new IRIS² investment could benefit the European space industry, while the administrative simplifications may ease compliance for project implementers.