On 8 July 2026, the Council adopted an implementing decision amending its 2022 approval of the Netherlands' recovery and resilience plan, incorporating new green transition measures. The amendment, published on 7 July 2026, adds five reforms and six investments under Component 1: Promoting the Green Transition, targeting energy taxation, CO2 levies, air travel taxes, vehicle taxation, and an Energy Law, alongside investments in offshore wind, hydrogen, zero-emission transport, and nature restoration. The Netherlands must meet specific milestones and targets to access non-repayable financial support under the Recovery and Resilience Facility.
The decision updates the original 4 October 2022 approval, which had allocated €4.7 billion in grants to the Netherlands. The new component aims to accelerate the green transition and address nitrogen deposition in Natura 2000 areas. Reforms include energy taxation adjustments (tariff changes by Q1 2024, structural changes by Q1 2025), a tightened CO2 levy for industry (introduced Q1 2021, tightened Q1 2023), an air travel tax increase to at least three times the 2022 level of €7.94 per passenger by Q1 2023, vehicle taxation reform (phasing out van purchase tax exemption by Q1 2025, truck levy by Q2 2026, rebate programme by Q2 2025), and an Energy Law entering into force by Q1 2025. Investments cover offshore wind (grants for four nature projects by Q4 2025, research reports by Q1 2026, sensors on two monitoring stations by Q1 2026, governance agreements by Q2 2024, administrative agreements by Q1 2026 with at least €200 million committed), green hydrogen, zero-emission inland vessels, sustainable aviation, electric personal vehicles (105,000 grant award decisions by Q2 2026), zero-emission trucks (at least 610 grants by Q2 2026), a nature programme, and a pig farm cessation scheme (termination of 275 farms by 30 June 2023, reducing pig population by at least 6% and ammonia emissions by about 900,000 kg compared to 2019). No measure is expected to do significant harm to environmental objectives under Article 17 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852.
The decision impacts several stakeholders. Dutch businesses in energy-intensive sectors face higher costs from the CO2 levy and energy tax reforms, while renewable energy and hydrogen producers benefit from investment support. Farmers, particularly pig farmers, are affected by the cessation scheme, which reduces livestock numbers and ammonia emissions. Consumers may see higher air travel taxes and vehicle taxation changes, but gain from subsidies for electric vehicles and zero-emission trucks. Environmental NGOs welcome the nitrogen reduction measures but may push for faster implementation. The European Commission will monitor compliance with milestones before disbursing funds, with the next payment request expected in 2027.