- 2026-05-21 “Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission 21.5.2026 Written question The Commission is aware of the judicial investigations on the health equipment contracts in Canary Islands. In line with the shared management principle governing cohesion policy, the Commission has requested information to the Spanish Managing authorities on the possible support from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) funding to these contracts. Member States bear the primary responsibility for the implementation and control of operations funded by the ERDF, including detecting and correcting irregularities. The Spanish authorities are therefore responsible for ensuring that contracts co-financed by ERDF comply with applicable procurement rules and that funds are used correctly. The Commission’s role is supervisory ensuring that the national management and control systems provide the assurance that resources are used in compliance with EU law and the principle of sound financial management. The procurement procedures for the specific contracts in the Canary Islands were not subject to the Commission’s own verification. However, if irregularities were identified, either through national controls or investigations by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, the Commission would expect the Spanish authorities to take corrective measures, including financial corrections where necessary [1] . Failing to take action at national level, the Commission would take appropriate action in order to ensure that EU funds are used in accordance with the applicable rules, including through the application of the appropriate financial corrections. The Commission remains in contact with the Spanish authorities. Should new information emerge, the Commission will assess whether further action is required. [1] in line with Article 69 of Regulation (EU) 2021/1060; ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/1060/oj.”
Accounting and auditing of EU budget · Rule of law in Spain
- 2026-05-19 “Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission 19.5.2026 Written question The Commission is committed to supporting Member States in central and eastern Europe through cohesion policy investments. The 2014-2020 ex post evaluation of cohesion policy funds [1] showed that, while existing support in these areas has not yet been sufficiently scaled to address business growth and internationalisation, investments have laid vital foundations for growth and innovation of small and medium-sized enterprises. Smart Specialisation Strategies (S3) offer a clear path forward in the next programming period. Regions adopting S3 already demonstrate better business performance, particularly when combined with instruments such as the Innovation Investment Instrument (I3), alongside deeper synergies with Horizon Europe (HE) and InvestEU [2] , for example by leveraging transfer mechanisms [3] or providing alternative funding for projects awarded the Seal of Excellence. Emerging European economies are among those which benefitted most [4] from InvestEU-supported finance for investments and are specifically targeted by the European Innovation Council (EIC) Pre-Accelerator call [5] . To better target European financial support for these economies, the Commission announced the setup of the EastInvest facility, a dedicated financing platform for eastern border regions [6] . In the 2028-2034 Multiannual Financial Framework, renewed support is proposed to continue with investments in innovation and industrial transition via the National and Regional Partnership Plans, which will continue allowing transfer possibilities, also to the European Competitiveness Fund. [1] Commission Staff Working Document Ex post evaluation of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Cohesion Fund for the programming period 2014-2020: https://ec.europa.eu/transparency/documents-register/detail?ref=SWD(2025)328&lang=en. [2] The EU’s flagship research and innovation programme: https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/funding/funding-opportunities/funding-programmes-and-open-calls/horizon-europe_en. [3] The transfer mechanism gives the Member State possibility to transfer up to 5% of their resources under shared management to any other EU directly or indirectly managed instrument. The transferred funding can be used only for the benefit of the Member State concerned. For instance, a transfer can enable excellent HE proposals from the concerned Member State/region to participate in HE when budgetary constraints would otherwise prevent them from being selected for HE support. Additionally, the InvestEU Fund currently allows the possibility for Member States to transfer resources from their shared management funds to a Member State Compartment and hence increase financing (from equity to venture debt and risk sharing loans) in their country to support high-growth companies or other investments. [4] On a gross domestic product/per capita weighted basis. [5] The Commission is supporting companies in the EU region also by the EIC Pre-Accelerator call targeting specifically small and medium-sized enterprises and startups in widening countries. The goal of this initiative is to increase the business, investor and technology readiness of high potential deep-tech startups from the widening countries preparing them to successfully apply for the EIC Accelerator and secure other forms of investment. The first edition of this call was organised in 2025 with more than 1000 applications, 70 companies have been funded and 320 awarded with Seal of Excellence to help them access alternative or complementary EU and national funding sources. The next EIC Pre-Accelerator call is planned in 2027. [6] Communication on the EU's eastern regions bordering Russia, Belarus and Ukraine: https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/policy/themes/eastern-border-regions_en.”
Cohesion and rural funding
- 2026-05-19 “Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission 19.5.2026 Written question 1. As part of the requirements of the National and Regional Partnership Plans [1] , Member States must provide a comprehensive overview of how their plans support the different categories of regions. This includes information for each measure specifying the geographic areas targeted on the basis of their NUTS [2] classification and an overview of the financial allocations to the different categories of regions. The Commission proposal also foresees a minimum allocation of EUR 218 billion for less developed regions. This enables to maintain the long-term principle of concentrating resources in less developed regions. 2. The principles of cohesion policy — partnership, shared management and multi-level governance — will be maintained. The Commission will assess how relevant partners have been involved in the preparation of the plans, including stakeholder selection, representativeness and conflict of interest safeguards as part of the approval process of the plans. These partners need to be involved in the preparation, implementation and evaluation of chapters, including through participation in monitoring committees. 3. When calibrating the milestones and targets in their plans, Member States will need to take into account the time required for their achievement in view of decommitment rules. Member States will have flexibility regarding the choice of milestones and targets to be submitted in all payment applications, across all chapters of the plan. Before submitting payment applications to the Commission, Member States must carry out the necessary verifications to ascertain themselves that the milestones and targets included in the payment application were fulfilled and that the use of funds is in compliance with applicable law. [1] Commission proposal for a regulation governing the National and Regional Partnership Plans: ‘ Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and the Council establishing the European Fund for economic, social and territorial cohesion, agriculture and rural, fisheries and maritime, prosperity and security for the period 2028-2034 and amending Regulation (EU) 2023/955 and Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509’, COM/2025/565 final: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:52025PC0565. [2] Nomenclature of territorial units for statistics.”
Cohesion and rural funding
- 2026-05-12 “Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission 12.5.2026 Written question 1. On 10 April 2026, Italy requested assistance from the EU Solidarity Fund (EUSF) [1] . The Commission is carrying out a thorough assessment of the submitted information. If the assessment confirms the application’s eligibility, the Commission will make a mobilisation proposal to the European Parliament and the Council and mobilise the determined funding swiftly. Beyond financial support, at the request of the Italian Civil Protection, the Copernicus Emergency Management System provided a series of products across several areas of southern Italy to depict the delineation of flooded areas and help in damage assessment. There is a need to act beyond disaster response since extreme events will intensify until climate change is arrested. The first EU Climate Risk Assessment [2] identified Southern Europe as a hotspot for climate-related risks. The Commission will propose an integrated framework for climate resilience in the fourth quarter of 2026 to support Member States in preparing for and managing the impacts of climate change. 2. The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) [3] programmes for Calabria, Sardinia and Sicily currently include EUR 352 million to prevent and manage the risks caused by natural disasters. As of 31 December 2025, EUR 196 million have been allocated to selected operations, while EUR 156 million are still available to support new interventions. The Commission is available to discuss with regional authorities how this financial envelop could be used to address the consequences of these events. [1] Council Regulation (EC) 2012/2002 of 11 November 2002 establishing the European Union Solidarity Fund (OJ L 311, 14.11.2002, p. 3: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:32002R2012). [2] ‘European Climate Risk Assessment’, European Environment Agency, 2024: https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/analysis/publications/european-climate-risk-assessment. [3] Regulation (EU) 2021/1058 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 June 2021 on the European Regional Development Fund and on the Cohesion Fund: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:32021R1058.”
Cohesion and rural funding
- 2026-05-06 “Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission 6.5.2026 Written question On 14 May 2024, Spain applied for European Regional Development Fund support to upgrade the Madrid — Seville high-speed railway line, defined as a major project under Article 100 of Regulation (EU) 1303/2013 [1] . In the application, Spain noted that, although originally built according to advanced technical standards in 1992, the line had become technologically outdated ‘ desfasada <QT.END> ’ </QT.END> compared to other Spanish high-speed lines, without this entailing though any reduction in the safety standards of the service being provided. The Commission assessed the application and agreed on 24 June 2024 to co-finance the proposed u pgrades [2] . The assessment did not declare the Madrid — Seville line obsolete but rather recognised the need for infrastructure renovation, as described in the application. Prior to authorising EU co-financing for major projects, the Commission meticulously reviews the information provided by the Member State under Article 101 of Regulation (EU) 1303/2013, including environmental and cost-benefit considerations, alongside other legal provisions such as state aid. Regarding questions two and three, the honourable Member is invited to consult the response to Question E-000254/2026 [3] . As the Commission referred in it, “b oth ex ante and ex post controls are applied to ensure compliance with EU standards in projects funded by the Cohesion Policy Funds and the Recovery and Resilience Facility”. However, the primary responsibility for preventing, detecting and correcting irregularities lies with Member States, which are required to establish effective management and control systems, including anti-fraud measures. Regarding judicial investigations, the Commission monitors developments closely and takes action when appropriate. [1] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2013/1303/oj. [2] https://spain.representation.ec.europa.eu/noticias-eventos/noticias-0/la-comision-aprueba-110-millones-de-euros-en-fondos-de-la-politica-de-cohesion-para-modernizar-la-2024-06-24_es. [3] https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/-ASW_EN.html.”
EU support of rail transport · EU funding for transportation
- 2026-05-06 “Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission 6.5.2026 Written question According to the information available to the Commission, this project was part of the Recovery and Resilience Plan Facility (RRF). The particular project referred to in the question falls under component 10 (Just Transition), investment 1 (Investment in Just Transition) of the Spanish Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) . The relevant target (#140), which required the publication in the Official Journal of the award of at least 100 environmental, digital and social infrastructure projects in Just Transition Areas, was positively assessed under the fourth payment request [1] in June 2024. Compliance with the ‘Do No Significant Harm’ principle is a prerequisite for a measure to be included in a RRP (Article 5(2) of Regulation 2021/241) [2] . Disbursements under the Facility are tied to the satisfactory fulfilment of these conditions. Member States bear primary responsibility for the management and control of EU financing provided under the RRF funds. They are required to establish robust control systems to ensure that funds are utilised effectively and appropriately. To this end, the Member States must provide details on the measures implemented, adhere to specific control requirements, and submit regular audit reports to the Commission, also for measures already assessed. The Commission, in turn, carries out its own assessments and audits to confirm that Member States are fulfilling their obligations and that funds are being appropriately implemented. The Commission utilises various tools and procedures to review and validate the information provided by Member States. [1] C(2024) 5186 finaldis. [2] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32021R0241.”
Cohesion and rural funding
- 2026-05-05 “Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission 5.5.2026 Written question Italy's Recovery and Resilience plan (RRP) [1] includes reform 4.1 on the regulation ordering of the professions of tourist guides, linked to milestone M1C3-10 on the definition of a national standard for tourist guides, which does not cover the organisation of the examination. The Commission approved the RRP [2] and its costing assessment, as per the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) Regulation [3] . The Commission positively assessed milestone M1C3-10 in its preliminary assessment of the sixth payment request [4] , which entailed a minimum national standard for the ordering of the profession of tourist guides [5] that fully replaced the former fragmentation and the absence of a nation-wide applicable legislation. The implementing Decree [6] provides for the elements considered as the minimum national standard. The current legislative framework as such is considered to comply with the requirements contained in the Council Implementing Decision [7] . The reform, within the framework of the RRP, did not provide for associated funding in the form of investment. The Commission raised to Italy that any regulation affecting access to professions must be justified and proportionate under EU law and its impact monitored. While exams are a national responsibility, the Commission stresses that access to regulated professions should not face disproportionate or unjustified barriers and must comply with EU law. Concerning employment and skills objectives, the Commission recalls that reforms supported under the RRF are expected to contribute to improving labour market participation and addressing skills shortages, in line with relevant EU law and initiatives [8] . Beyond the Commission’s role as Treaty guardian, Member States must ensure their laws comply with Union and national law. [1] https://reforms-investments.ec.europa.eu/italys-recovery-and-resilience-plan_en. [2] https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-15106-2025-ADD-1/en/pdf. [3] Regulation (EU) 2021/241 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 February 2021 establishing the Recovery and Resilience Facility, OJ L 57, 18.2.2021, pp. 17-75. [4] https://commission.europa.eu/document/download/837036ec-4d29-48cc-8877-30996d431669_en?filename=payment_positive_preliminary_assessment_of_the_sixth_payment_request_of_Italy.pdf. [5] Law no. 190 of 2023. [6] Decree of the Ministry of Tourism no. 88 of 26 June 2024. [7] https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-15106-2025-ADD-1/en/pdf. [8] Decision (EU) 2020/1512, European Skills Agenda and ‘Union of Skills’ Communication, 2025.”
EU strategy for tourism development
- 2026-05-04 “Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission 4.5.2026 Written question 1. On 10 April 2026, both Italy and Malta requested assistance from the EU Solidarity Fund (EUSF) [1] regarding the damages caused by storm Harry in January 2026. The Commission is carrying out a thorough assessment. 2. The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) programmes for Calabria, Sardinia and Sicily currently include EUR 352 million to prevent and manage the risks caused by natural disasters. As of 31 December 2025, EUR 196 million have been allocated to selected operations, while EUR 156 million are still available to support new interventions. The Commission is available to discuss with regional authorities how this financial envelop could be used to address the consequences of these events. The Maltese programme does not include specific allocations to climate adaptation, disaster risk prevention and resilience. Nevertheless, the ERDF could be used for the creation and the upgrade of infrastructure to improve resilience. 3. In the 2021-27 programming period, through cohesion policy funds [2] , the EU is contributing to prevention and preparedness measures with over EUR 14 billion across EU regions, focusing on the most vulnerable and exposed territories with a focus on nature-based solutions. In line with the Preparedness Union Strategy [3] , preparedness is set to be integrated into all relevant EU legislation, policies and programmes. For instance, civil preparedness was strengthened under the defence and the water priorities of the mid-term review of the cohesion policy [4] . In this context, both Calabria and Sicily allocated funds for civil preparedness [5] , investing EUR 14.7 million and EUR 167.3 million, respectively. The Commission proposal for the next multiannual financial framework suggests integrating preparedness across the proposed funding instruments [6] . [1] Council Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002 of 11 November 2002 establishing the European Union Solidarity Fund (OJ L 311, 14.11.2002, p. 3) https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:32002R2012. [2] European Regional Development Fund, Cohesion Fund, Just Transition Fund and Interreg programmes. [3] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:52025JC0130. [4] Regulation (EU) 2025/1914 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 September 2025 amending Regulations (EU) 2021/1058 and (EU) 2021/1056 as regards specific measures to address strategic challenges in the context of the mid-term review. http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2025/1914/oj. The mid-term review of cohesion policy mobilised a total of EUR 11.9 billion for the defence priority, which includes interventions to strengthen civil preparedness. This will support Member States to develop disaster risk management centres, integrated multi-hazard monitoring, or warning and prevention systems, among others. Additionally, the water priority resulted in additional EUR 3.1 billion, under which Member States will address flood and drought risk management, and ecosystem restoration. [5] Specific Objective 3.3: ‘Developing resilient defence infrastructure, prioritising that of a dual-use nature, including to foster military mobility in the Union, as well as enhancing civil preparedness’. [6] The funding instruments include competitiveness and research funds, and also the National and Regional Partnership Plans.”
Cohesion and rural funding · Climate efforts
- 2026-05-04 “Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission 4.5.2026 Written question The Commission’s monitoring of the implementation of the Italian national recovery and resilience plan (RRP) [1] is based on the requirements outlined in the annex to the Council Implementing Decision on the approval of the assessment of the RRP for Italy [2] . With regard to the investment on the development of rapid mass transport systems in particular, milestone M2C2-26, concerning the issuance of completion certificates related to the activities supported by the investment, will be assessed in the context of the tenth payment request expected in 2026, while milestone M2C2-24 and M2C2-25 were positively assessed in the context of the fifth and seventh payment request. Overall, Member States’ authorities must ensure compliance of the specific projects undertaken under their national RRP with applicable national and EU law, including on the matters related to working conditions. [1] https://reforms-investments.ec.europa.eu/italys-recovery-and-resilience-plan_en. [2] https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-15106-2025-ADD-1/EN/pdf.”
EU funding for transportation · EU Competition policy
- 2026-04-29 “E-000724/2026 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission Technical assistance (TA) can support the strengthening of administrative capacity for the effective management of cohesion policy funds. It plays an important role at all stages of implementation. Under the shared management principle, Member States are responsible to define investment priorities and allocate resources, accordingly, including for TA actions, in line with programmes’ priorities and Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 1 . The LIFE programme supports a capacity-building project in Greece 2 . However, as a competitive funding instrument, it does not provide for directly allocating resources to strengthen the administrative and scientific capacity of Member States, including in island regions. This remains the Member States’ responsibility, including resources related to the implementation of EU environmental funding. If the Commission’s proposal for the National and Regional Partnership Plans (NRPP) Regulation 3 is adopted by the legislators, Greece will be able to propose specific measures to support Aegean Forest services, as investments or reforms. Such measures could be submitted as part of the NRPP plan, following the consultations with relevant partners and stakeholders 4 . EU support will supplement national public funding. The organisation and adequate staffing of forest services is the Greek authorities’ responsibility. Currently, cohesion policy supports capacity building actions for beneficiaries, including forest services in island regions, through the Environment and Climate Change programme 5 , with a budget of 16.2 million 6 . Further support can be requested through EU technical assistance tools, such as the Technical Support Instrument 7 , the TAIEX-REGIO Peer2Peer 8 and the Cohesion for Transitions 9 . 1 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32021R1060. 2 https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/projectsdetails/43252405/101101858/LIFE2027. 3 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:52025PC0565. 4 Pursuant to Article 6 of the Proposal for a Regulation: see footnote 3. 5 https://peka-program.gr/. 6 EU contribution. 7 https://reforms-investments.ec.europa.eu/technical-support-instrument-0_en. 8 https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/policy/how/improving-investment/regio-peer-2-peer/taiex-regio-peer-2peer_en. 9 https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/policy/communities-and-networks/cohesion-4-transition_en.”
Cohesion and rural funding · Funding for OCTs and outermost regions
- 2026-04-29 “E-000614/2026 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission Under the programming periods 2000-2006 and 2007-2013 the Common Provisions Regulations (CPR) for the management of structural funds 1 required that Member States establish management and control systems for their programmes and ensure their functioning in accordance with the principle of sound financial management and compliance with EU eligibility rules, including as regards durability of operations. Cohesion policy funds do not cover operational and infrastructure maintenance costs, which are national competence. The construction of the Ionian Motorway was co-funded and completed under the operational programmes ‘Road Axes, Ports and Urban Development 2000-2006’ 2 and ‘Improving Accessibility 2007-2013’ 3 . Both programmes have been closed and the final payment disbursed by the Commission services on the basis of a list of complete and functioning projects. The construction of the Ionian motorway was carried out through a concession contract, which lays out the terms of the public concession and the responsibilities of the concessionaire in cases of natural disasters causing technical problems. Recognising the critical importance of the sustainability and resilience of infrastructure projects in view of an ever more challenging natural environment, the CPR for the current financing period 20212027 4 foresees that adequate mechanisms for climate proofing of supported investments in infrastructure should be an integral part of programming and implementation of the funds. 1 Article 30(4) of the Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 of 21 June 1999 laying down general provisions on the Structural Funds, applicable to the 2000-2006 financing period ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/1999/1260/oj and Article 57 of the Council Regulation (EC) No 1083/2006 of 11 July 2006 laying down general provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund and the Cohesion Fund and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999, applicable to the 2007-2013 period, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2006/1083/oj. 2 Decision C (2001) 534 of 19 March 2001: http://www.cc.cec/sg/vista/home?specificDossierSA&SDRef=C/2001/534, as last amended by Decision C (2009) 114 of 20 January 2009: http://www.cc.cec/sg/vista/home?documentDetails&DocRef=C/2009/114&ComCat=SPINE. 3 Decision C (2007) 5436 of 31 October 2007: http://www.cc.cec/sg/vista/home?specificDossierSA&SDRef=C/2007/5436, as last amended by Decision C (2015) 9770 of 21 December 2015: http://www.cc.cec/sg/vista/home?documentDetails&DocRef=C/2015/9770&ComCat=SPINE. 4 Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 June 2021 laying down common provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund Plus, the Cohesion Fund, the Just Transition Fund and the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund and financial rules for those and for the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, the Internal Security Fund and the Instrument for Financial Support for Border Management and Visa Policy: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32021R1060.”
EU funding for transportation
- 2026-04-27 “E-000462/2026 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission 1. According to the Spanish authorities, over EUR 112 million from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) have been allocated to investments in state-owned dams since 2014, of which EUR 35 million have already been disbursed for projects completed. Moreover, the Spanish recovery and resilience plan 1 contains Milestone 428, under investment 1 of Component 5 (C5.I1), which aims to ensure dam and reservoir safety. The Commission has not yet assessed this milestone or disbursed related funds. Milestone 428 is expected to be included in the seventh, and final payment request from Spain, for which all activities must be completed by 31 August 2026. 2. The above-mentioned ERDF investments support flood prevention, including the improvement of dam components, gates, spillways, valves, and monitoring systems. However, the ERDF does not support routine maintenance of infrastructure and therefore it has not supported day-to-day maintenance of dams. Milestone 428, under investment 1 of the Component 5 of the RRF, focuses exclusively on contracts related to the safety of eight dams and reservoirs across Spain and does not include funding for new dams or extensions. 1 https://commission.europa.eu/document/download/47a4cc03-061b-4158-a221f4ba10113a4c_en?filename=COM_2025_794_1_EN_annexe_proposition_cp_part1_v4%20%283%29_0.pdf.”
Cohesion and rural funding
- 2026-04-27 “E-000692/2026 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission Ensuring appropriate national co-financing for projects contracted under the 2014-2020 Regional Operational Programme falls within the remit of the Romanian authorities. Commission notice 2021/C 417/01 1 establishes guidelines to facilitate the timely closure of the 2014-2020 operational programmes, and where necessary to enable beneficiaries to secure continuing funding for phased operations. To these ends, the Government of Romania adopted Emergency Ordinance 36/2023 2 to establish a uniform national legal framework for programme closure and the phasing of operations, on which the Commission was consulted. Article 7 of the Ordinance allows for adjustments to the assessed financial needs of phased operations to reflect the significant increases in prices that have been observed in recent years. Updated cost estimates may thus be applied to the second phase of selected projects to be financed from 2021-2027 EU funding programmes. This framework is intended to alleviate the financial pressures faced by local authorities to complete projects and reduce the risk of losing EU funds. The Commission remains in regular contact with the Romanian authorities regarding implementation of the partnership principle and of the Government Emergency Ordinance 36/2023. The Commission will continue to monitor the closure process to ensure sound financial management in line with Commission notice 2021/C 417/01. 1 Commission notice Guidelines on the closure of operational programmes adopted for assistance from the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund, the Cohesion Fund and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (2014-2020) 2021/C 417/01 (OJ C, C/417, 14.10.2021. CELEX: https://eurlex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:52021XC1014(01). 2 Government Emergency Order No. 33 (2023) laying down the general framework for the closure of operational programmes financed under the 2014-2020 programming period: http://legislatie.just.ro/Public/DetaliiDocument/270564.”
Cohesion and rural funding
- 2026-04-27 “E-000766/2026 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission Under the Multiannual Financial Framework 2028–2034 1 , natural disaster response will be managed via National and Regional Partnership Plans and the EU Facility. A cascade mechanism will allow Member States to progressively mobilise resources depending on the scale of the crisis. Initially, existing Plan measures can be reprogrammed for support. If further assistance is needed, flexibility allocations within the Plans can be used. If still inadequate, additional funds may be obtained from the EU Facility and its budgetary cushion. Under 2021-2027 framework, the EU Solidarity Fund (EUSF) 2 is available in the event of a severe natural disaster and may be mobilised at the request of the affected country. The request must be submitted within 12 weeks of the date on which the first damage occurred and must demonstrate that the total direct damage exceeds the thresholds set out in Article 2 of the Regulation. The Union Civil Protection Mechanism may also be activated to support emergency response. The Commission guides the affected countries and works to assess requests and mobilise funding swiftly and thoroughly. The EUSF may also cover preparation and implementation costs of the operations financed by the EUSF, including essential technical expertise. The EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change provides technical assistance and funding to local authorities to assess climate hazards and develop innovative solutions. 1 Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the European Fund for economic, social and territorial cohesion, agriculture and rural, fisheries and maritime, prosperity and security for the period 2028-2034 and amending Regulation (EU) 2023/955 and Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509 {COM(2025) 565 final}; https://commission.europa.eu/publications/european-fund-economic-social-andterritorial-cohesion-agriculture-and-rural-fisheries-and-maritime_en. 2 Council Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002 of 11 November 2002 establishing the European Union Solidarity Fund (OJ L 311, 14.11.2002, p. 3) as amended by Regulation (EU) No 661/2014 of the European Parliament and the Council of 15 May 2014 (OJ L 189, 27.6.2014, p. 143) and by Regulation (EU) 2020/461 of the European Parliament and the Council of 30 March 2020 (OJ L 99, 31.3.2020, p. 9.); https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legalcontent/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:32002R2012.”
Cohesion and rural funding
- 2026-04-24 “E-000339/2026 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission The Commission is committed to supporting the swift and effective implementation of strategic trans-European transport network (TEN-T) projects. The Terzo Valico dei Giovi railway project is part of the TEN-T North Sea-Rhine-Mediterranean European Transport Corridor 1 , and is included in Italy’s national recovery and resilience plan 2 (NRRP). In particular, the project is referred to in the scope of target M3C1-9 of the NRRP, which is due to be assessed in the context of the last payment request to be submitted by Italy to the Commission over the course of 2026. Upon such submission, the Commission will verify whether the conditions set out in the Annex to the Council Implementing Decision 3 are fulfilled. The Commission recalls that, under Article 19 of Regulation (EU) 2021/241 4 , it assessed that all national recovery and resilience plans contributed to the objectives of the Regulation, including the green transition and social and territorial cohesion. This assessment was done in 2021 for the Italian recovery and resilience plan, and it is detailed in a Commission staff working document 5 . 1 The TEN-T core network corridors have been replaced by the TEN-T European Transport Corridors, following the revision of the TEN-T Regulation in 2024, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32024R1679&qid=1776343718443. 2 https://commission.europa.eu/business-economy-euro/economic-recovery/recovery-and-resiliencefacility/country-pages/italys-recovery-and-resilience-plan_en. 3 https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-15106-2025-ADD-1/en/pdf. 4 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/241/oj/eng. 5 eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52021SC0165.”
EU transport infrastructure integration · EU funding for transportation · EU support of rail transport
- 2026-04-23 “E-000866/2026 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission Several measures under the Spanish Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) 1 partly concern actions on the Mediterranean Trans-European Transport Network Corridor, including the section Algeciras-Madrid-Zaragoza 2 . At this stage, the Commission does not have any information on the funds allocated to the specific rail motorway referred to by the Honourable Member, as the assessment of the satisfactory fulfilment of these railway measures is to be made under the last payment request, expected in the second half of 2026. Furthermore, under the Connecting Europe Facility, Spain has received EUR 2 426 090 of funding for one project concerning directly the development of the Algeciras–Zaragoza rail motorway 3 . The Commission has not yet assessed the satisfactory fulfilment of this project as its end date is set for 30 September 2026. The Spanish authorities have not informed the Commission of any delays to the implementation of these measures. The Commission is therefore not in a position to comment upon the current disbursement pace of the Spanish Government. The Commission assesses the fulfilment of milestones and targets under the Spanish RRP in line with the requirements in the respective Council Implementing Decision 4 . Should the Commission deem that milestones and targets associated with the railway investments are not satisfactorily fulfilled, it can suspend the payment of EU funds pursuant to Article 24 of the Recovery and Resilience Facility Regulation 5 . 1 https://reforms-investments.ec.europa.eu/spains-recovery-and-resilience-plan_en. 2 Measures C6.I1 – National transmission network European Corridors, C6.I3 – Intermodality, and C6.I4 – Support Programme for Sustainable and Digital Transport; Council Implementing Decision amending the Implementing Decision of 13 July 2021 on the approval of the assessment of the recovery and resilience plan for Spain, 17031/25 + ADD1 + COR1. 3 Commission Implementing Decision C(2023) 2298 final, on the selection of Military Mobility projects following the 2022 call for proposals for grants under the Connecting Europe Facility - Transport sector pursuant to Implementing Decision C(2021) 5763. 4 Council Implementing Decision amending the Implementing Decision of 13 July 2021 on the approval of the assessment of the recovery and resilience plan for Spain, 17031/25 + ADD1 + COR1. 5 Regulation (EU) 2021/241 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 February 2021 establishing the Recovery and Resilience Facility, OJ L 57, 18.2.2021, pp. 17–75.”
EU transport infrastructure integration · EU support of rail transport · EU funding for transportation
- 2026-04-23 “E-000584/2026 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission ‘Do no significant harm’ (DNSH) is a horizontal principle as set out in Article 9(4) of Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 1 that shall be taken into account in pursuing the policy objectives of any of the EU-funded programmes referred to in the Regulation, which contribute to the EU cohesion policy. Likewise, Regulation (EU) 2021/241 2 establishing the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) stipulates that the Facility shall only support measures respecting the principle of ‘do no significant harm’. Before submitting the programmes for adoption by the Commission, the Member States have to ascertain that programmes comply with the DNSH principle. This shall be achieved by assessing the types of actions defined in the programme with respect to their potential to do significant harm to the environmental objectives. Member States must therefore: (i) put in place selection procedures that are sufficiently detailed to ensure compatibility of operations or large-scale investments with DNSH compliant types of actions set out in approved programmes and (ii) are compatible with applicable EU environmental law. Under the RRF, the Member States include a detailed DNSH self-assessment of each measure in their Recovery and Resilience Plans. The selection of projects is the responsibility of the Member States, which establish the relevant selection criteria and procedures through the programme authorities in accordance with the applicable EU rules. The Commission approves the programmes but does not select individual projects. It is therefore for the Member States to ensure that territorial specificities, including those related to insularity where relevant, are duly taken into account. 1 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/1060/oj/eng. 2 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32021R0241&qid=1667997764795.”
Climate efforts · Funding for OCTs and outermost regions · EU strategy for tourism development
- 2026-04-23 “E-000636/2026 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission In cohesion policy, given public procurement's vital role in shared management, national and regional authorities must establish robust control systems and rectify irregularities, applying financial corrections as needed. Should controls fail or serious irregularities remain uncorrected by a Member State, the Commission can interrupt payment deadlines, suspend payments, or apply financial corrections to recover misused funds. If corrections applied by the Commission are net (when regulatory conditions 1 are met), they reduce the support from the Funds to a programme. If they are not net, the Member State can reuse the concerned amounts to fund other eligible operations. Where irregularities are related to projects implemented by beneficiaries, the Member State must protect the EU budget by applying a financial correction towards the respective project (and beneficiaries). For activities involving exclusively national public funds, compliance with procurement rules primarily falls to national review bodies as per Directives on procurement remedies 2 . 1 Article 104 of Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 June 2021: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A02021R1060-20251025. 2 Directive 89/665/EEC and Directive 92/13/EEC: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legalcontent/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:01989L0665-20140417; https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legalcontent/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:31992L0013.”
Conditions to access EU budget · Accounting and auditing of EU budget
- 2026-04-22 “E-001001/2026 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission The Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) was established as a temporary instrument with a clear end date in 2026. In line with the legal deadlines and the temporary nature of the Facility, the Commission must make the final payments by 31 December 2026. The RRF Regulation does not allow any flexibility regarding the satisfactory fulfilment of milestones and targets after August 2026 1 . The Commission is working closely with Member States to address implementation bottlenecks. In the Communication ‘NextGenerationEU - The road to 2026’ 2 , the Commission has set a clear path forward guiding Member States to take all the necessary actions to ensure a smooth implementation of the RRF in its final months. In particular, the RRF Regulation 3 allows Member States to revise recovery and resilience plans if objective circumstances make it impossible for them to deliver on the previously agreed commitments. Member States can request targeted amendments to their plans and the Commission will support such revisions within the framework of the RRF Regulation. To this end, the Commission has also taken steps to simplify the process for amending the plans. If, despite the above-mentioned efforts, some of the last milestones or targets are not satisfactorily fulfilled, the corresponding disbursement will not be made. The Commission acknowledges the difficulties faced by several outermost regions in implementing RRF funds within the given deadline. However, it does not envisage proposing any extraordinary measures under article 349 Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union in this context. 1 Article 20(5)(d) Regulation (EU) 2021/241 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 February 2021 establishing the Recovery and Resilience Facility (OJ L 057, 18.2.2021). 2 COM(2025) 310 final. 3 Article 21 of the Recovery and Resilience Facility Regulation (please see footnote 1).”
Funding for OCTs and outermost regions · Cohesion and rural funding
- 2026-04-16 “E-000407/2026 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission 1. The Commission refers the Honourable Members to the answer provided to the parliamentary question E-000254/2026 ‘Irregularities in the EU-co-financed renovation works on the railway line where the Adamuz accident occurred’ 1 . As this reply states, both ex ante and ex post controls are applied to ensure compliance with EU standards in projects funded by the Cohesion Policy Funds and the Recovery and Resilience Facility. However, the primary responsibility for preventing, detecting and correcting irregularities lies with Member States, which are required to establish effective management and control systems, including anti-fraud measures. 2. Rail equipment has a long lifespan making possible the use of past or national technology no longer interoperable with present solutions but nevertheless safe for use. Taking this into consideration, national safety authorities may continue to accept that outdated assets or technology may be operated, provided that subsequent safety measures are put in place. The safe operation of the network and of each line by the infrastructure manager is validated by national safety authority before delivering the operator’s safety authorisation. Furthermore, the extensive renovation or upgrading of lines, as well as new constructions, also need to be authorised by national safety authorities, as indicated in Article 12 of the Rail Safety Directive (EU) 2016/798. 1 https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/-ASW_EN.html.”
Cohesion and rural funding
- 2026-04-16 “E-000767/2026 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission The Communication on the EU`s eastern regions bordering Russia, Belarus and Ukraine 1 addresses the needs of the regions most affected by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. These border regions face the greatest immediate pressures from the conflict, including hybrid threats such as cyber-attacks, sabotage, violation of airspace, disruptions to transport and energy systems, and challenges related to migration. The Commission recognises the diverse challenges present in many regions along the EU’s borders and has put in place funding tools and comprehensive strategies to address those challenges. Greece and Cyprus work together in Interreg cooperation programmes on a range of resilience actions. Moreover, the Pact for the Mediterranean 2 sets out a new ambitious strategy to strengthen EU relations with its Southern Mediterranean partners across its three pillars. This approach ensures policy coherence and allows for support tailored to the specific challenges in each region. Security and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean are in the EU’s strategic interest 3 . The EU remains determined to uphold regional stability and defend its interests and those of its Member States. Türkiye is a candidate country and an EU partner. In line with the EU’s Strategic Compass 4 , the EU remains committed to continue cooperation in areas of common interest and develop a mutually beneficial partnership, based on an equal commitment on Türkiye’s side to advance on a path of cooperation and de-escalation. A comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus issue would significantly contribute to stability and security in the Eastern Mediterranean. The EU remains fully committed to a settlement within the UNagreed framework 5 . 1 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=COM%3A2026%3A82%3AFIN. 2 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A52025JC0026&qid=1774450795971. 3 https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/m5jlwe0p/euco-conclusions-20240417-18-en.pdf. 4 https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-7371-2022-INIT/en/pdf. 5 https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-16933-2025-INIT/en/pdf.”
Asylum & border control · EU-Turkey relations · EU relations with Eastern Neighbourhood
- 2026-04-14 “E-000711/2026 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission The Commission acknowledges the difficulties experienced by those affected from the devastating earthquakes. In 2022, Greece has benefitted from EUR 1 351 886 of financial assistance from the EU Solidarity Fund for essential recovery and repair operations in Crete following the earthquake. The funds were used to clean up the disaster-stricken areas, to provide temporary accommodation and to restore essential road, education and wastewater infrastructure. In addition, with the support of Cohesion Policy for 2021-2027 1 , Greece has allocated resources for risk prevention and management of risks related to natural hazards not associated with climate, for example, earthquakes. Under the shared management and subsidiarity principle governing the Cohesion Policy funds, selection and implementation of projects is the responsibility of the national authorities. However, it should be noted that compensations for damages to private properties are not eligible. In line with the Article 73(2)(c) of the Common Provisions Regulation 2021/1060 2 , the Commission considers that a cost-benefit analysis is a useful tool to determine the best relationship between the amount of support, the activities undertaken and the achievement of objectives. It helps thus the competent national authorities define the most appropriate scope of projects, their level of EU funding and the added value for the society. 1 https://cohesiondata.ec.europa.eu/cohesion_overview/21-27. 2 Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 June 2021 laying down common provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund Plus, the Cohesion Fund, the Just Transition Fund and the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund and financial rules for those and for the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, the Internal Security Fund and the Instrument for Financial Support for Border Management and Visa Policy: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/1060/oj/eng.”
EU Development & Humanitarian Aid · Cohesion and rural funding
- 2026-04-13 “E-000465/2026 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission 1. There are no specific EU requirements on the maintenance and safety of water dams as such. These matters fall under the competence of Member States and their national legal frameworks. Compliance with maintenance and safety obligations is primarily a matter of national law and the responsibility of Spanish authorities. Notwithstanding, the Spanish recovery and resilience plan 1 includes Milestone 428, under investment 1 of Component 5 (C5.I1), aiming to preserve the safety of dams and reservoirs. At this stage, the Commission has not assessed the fulfilment of this milestone, expected to be included in the 7 th, and final, Payment Request package from Spain. 2. For projects financed under cohesion policy funds, both ex ante and ex post controls ensure compliance with EU rules. These include monitoring, reporting and audit systems to verify that EU funds are used in line with EU law and financing conditions. 1 https://commission.europa.eu/document/download/47a4cc03-061b-4158-a221f4ba10113a4c_en?filename=COM_2025_794_1_EN_annexe_proposition_cp_part1_v4%20%283%29_0.pdf.”
Cohesion and rural funding
- 2026-04-13 “E-000511/2026 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission Pursuant to Protocol 10 to the Accession Act 1 , the application of the acquis is suspended in the areas of the Republic of Cyprus in which the government of the Republic of Cyprus does not exercise effective control. The Digital Services Act (DSA) 2 applies across the EU. However, the DSA itself does not regulate specific content. Instead, it imposes procedural obligations on online platforms, requiring them to have systems in place so that illegal content can be detected, flagged and addressed. Illegal content is defined in other EU laws or in relevant national legislation. At EU level, Directive (EC) 2005/29 3 seeks to protect the economic interests of consumers in the EU by prohibiting misleading advertising that causes, or is likely to cause, consumers to take a transactional decision that they would not have taken otherwise. However, for practical and legal reasons, there are difficulties to enforce the Directive if the sellers are registered in an unrecognised jurisdiction. The EU recognises only the Republic of Cyprus as a subject of international law, in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions. The EU remains fully committed to a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem within the UN framework, in accordance with all relevant UN Security Council resolutions and in line with the principles on which the EU is founded and the acquis. It is ready to play an active role in supporting all stages of the UN-led process, with all appropriate means at its disposal. 1 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/treaty/acc_2003/act_1/pro_10/sign/eng. 2 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2022/2065/oj/eng. 3 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2005/29/oj.”
Digital platforms liability for harmful and illegal content
- 2026-04-13 “E-000295/2026 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission The core mission of the Just Transition Fund to address the social, employment, economic, and environmental impacts of the transition towards a climate-neutral economy has been fully integrated into the scope of the future National and Regional Partnership Plans (NRP Plans) for 2028-2034 through various specific objectives, including the specific objective to support a just transition towards the Union’s 2030, 2040 and 2050 targets for energy and climate 1 . The Commission proposal 2 for the NRP Plans also provides for a possibility to support territorial just transition strategies. This new framework gives more flexibility to Member States to tailor the Plans to the specific challenges and needs of the different regions and territories. While there is no dedicated funding nor earmarking for coal-mining regions in the next Multiannual Financial Framework, Member States are required to explain how their Plan will effectively contribute to territorial tools, including territorial just transition strategies where relevant. Member States are also required to contribute to all specific objectives identified in the proposal, including the one to support a just transition. 1 Article 3 (1)(a) ((iii) of the Commission proposal COM(2025) 565. 2 COM(2025) 565.”
Cohesion and rural funding
- 2026-04-13 “E-000480/2026 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission 1. The European Regional Development Fund supports telemedicine through cohesion programmes by financing infrastructure and technology necessary for digital health services, enhancing accessibility and quality of healthcare in the EU, including in islands, mountainous and remote areas. The EU4HEALTH programme funds, for example, the project COMPASSAI 1 with the main objective to accelerate the safe and effective deployment of the artificial intelligence in healthcare, with focus on cancer and healthcare delivery in remote areas, including islands. 2. The Commission proposal for the 2028-2034 Multiannual Financial Framework 2 will provide support for strengthening digital health infrastructure and digital skills of health professionals. In particular, digital tools and the broader digital transformation of healthcare aimed at improving access to health services, as well as support for digital infrastructures in the public sector across the EU, are among the specific activities listed under Articles 37(1)(b) and 39 of the proposal for a Regulation establishing the European Competitiveness Fund 3 . Under the Commission proposal for a Regulation establishing a European Fund for economic, social and territorial cohesion, agriculture and rural, fisheries and maritime, prosperity and security 4 , Member States, through National and Regional Partnership Plans, will be able to support, among other things, investments in the health sector addressing challenges identified in the European Semester and facilitate access to services and associated infrastructure, including modernising, digitalising, and strengthening the quality and resilience of healthcare systems. 1 https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/EU4H-2024PJ-03-6. 2 COM(2025) 570 final. 3 COM(2025) 555 final. 4 COM (2025) 565 final.”
EU competences on health · Public and private sectors role in healthcare services
- 2026-04-10 “E-000351/2026 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission The EU Solidarity Fund (EUSF) 1 can only be activated at the request of Italy which has a deadline of 12 weeks as from the first damage occurred, demonstrating that the total direct damage exceeds the thresholds specified in Article 2 of the Regulation (EC) 2012/2002 2 . The EUSF may cover a part of the costs for emergency and recovery operations incurred by public authorities 3 . The Commission stands ready to guide the authorities should they wish to apply for EUSF support. The European Regional Development Fund programmes for Calabria, Sardinia and Sicily now include around EUR 352 million to prevent and manage the risks caused by natural disasters. Out of this amount, EUR 196 million have been allocated to selected operations as of 31 December 2025, while EUR 156 million are still available to support new interventions. These funds could finance infrastructure enhancements for disaster resilience. The Commission is available to discuss with regional authorities how this financial envelope could be used to address the consequences of the recent events. Pursuant to Article 21(1) of the Regulation (EU) 2021/241 4 , Italy can also submit a proposal to amend its recovery and resilience plan. Such a proposal can include new measures if existing ones are no longer achievable. New measures shall comply with the requirements outlined in the Regulation, including an indicative timeline for the completion by 31 August 2026. Pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2021/2115, as amended by Regulation (EU) 2025/2649 5 , Member States can also amend their Common Agricultural Policy Strategic Plan to offer crisis payments to active farmers impacted by natural disasters and use interventions to restore agricultural and forestry potential. The Commission recalls that the Regional Emergency Support to Reconstruction Regulation 6 applies to natural disasters occurring between 1 January 2024 and 31 December 2025. This 1 Council Regulation (EC) 2012/2002 of 11 November 2002 establishing the European Union Solidarity Fund (OJ L 311, 14.11.2002, p. 3) as amended by Regulation (EU) No 661/2014 of the European Parliament and the Council of 15 May 2014 (OJ L 189, 27.6.2014, p. 143) and by Regulation (EU) 2020/461 of the European Parliament and the Council of 30 March 2020 (OJ L 99, 31.3.2020, p. 9: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legalcontent/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:32002R2012). 2 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2002/2012/oj/eng#:~:text=of%20this%20Regulation.-,Article%202,1.%20At%20the. 3 This means, for example, the recovery of essential infrastructure, provision of temporary accommodation to the population, cleaning-up operations, and protection of the cultural heritage. 4 Regulation (EU) 2021/241 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 February 2021 establishing the Recovery and Resilience Facility (OJ L57, 18.2.2021, p.17, Art. 21 (1): http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/241/oj). 5 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=CELEX:32025R2649. 6 Regulation (EU) 2024/3236 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 December 2024 amending Regulations (EU) 2021/1057 and (EU) 2021/1058 as regards Regional Emergency Support to Reconstruction (RESTORE): http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/3236/oj.”
Climate efforts · Cohesion and rural funding
- 2026-03-31 “E-000516/2026 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission Milestone E1L of the Council Implementing Decision (CID) Annex 1 approving the Polish recovery and resilience plan 2 (RRP) requires a legal act setting an obligation to create lowemission zones (LEZ) in cities with more than 100 000 inhabitants where there is an excess of nitrogen dioxide. There is no specific EU law requirement to establish LEZ under this condition. Following a payment request, the Commission assesses whether the relevant milestones as set out in the CID are satisfactorily fulfilled. The scope of assessment for LEZ is determined by milestone E1L, related milestone E2L and the measure description. The Commission would like to draw the Honourable Member’s attention to the Commission’s report 3 from 19.9.2023 on the implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility. According to Article 24(3) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241 4 , the satisfactory fulfilment of milestones and targets requires that previously fulfilled milestones and targets have not been reversed by the Member State concerned. Whether a modification by the Member State fulfils this requirement can only be assessed on a case-by-case basis. In general, a change of a reform that would still meet all requirements of the respective milestone(s) would not be considered problematic. 1 https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-15795-2025-ADD-1/en/pdf. 2 https://reforms-investments.ec.europa.eu/polands-recovery-and-resilience-plan_en. 3 Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on the implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility: Moving forward, COM(2023) 545 final, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legalcontent/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=COM:2023:545:FIN. 4 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/241/oj/eng.”
Climate efforts · EU policy on urban development
- 2026-03-31 “P-000717/2026 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission 1. On 16 July 2025, the Commission adopted the proposals for the next multi-annual financial framework, including the proposal for the National and Regional Partnership plans 1 . Instead of 14 separate frameworks, the latter provides for a more integrated approach enhancing synergies and making EU support more effective to address the challenges in a more comprehensive manner, including in Eastern border regions. The plans are required to take into account specific needs and challenges of Eastern border regions, particularly in the areas of security, border management and economic development. Those needs and challenges will have to be identified in the plans in line with Annex VII (e) of the proposal and should be matched by corresponding reforms and investments. The specific situation of Eastern border regions was also recognised with targeted measures as part of the mid-term review of cohesion policy, including a 9.5% increase in pre-financing and a higher 10% cofinancing rate to programmes in these regions. 2. For home affairs policies in Member States bordering Russia and Belarus the proposal sets out additional targeted funding for the benefit of those regions. It is embedded in the allocation key, which includes criteria to address challenges in relation to security at the borders with Russia and Belarus. This results in additional resources for these regions. 1 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:52025PC0565.”
Cohesion and rural funding
- 2026-03-27 “E-000521/2026 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission The Brexit Adjustment Reserve (BAR) is implemented under shared management, with Member States responsible for designing and implementing measures in line with their specific exposure to Brexit-related impacts. As the assessment of submissions is ongoing, the Commission is not yet in a position to provide further details. For detailed information on individual measures, reference can be made to the French Managing Authority, which is the National Agency for Territorial Cohesion. The possibility to transfer resources to other EU instruments, including REPowerEU chapters of the Recovery and Resilience Plans, was introduced by the co-legislators in 2023 to provide flexibility in light of evolving geopolitical and economic circumstances. Transfers were voluntary decisions taken by the Member States concerned. France decided to transfer part of its allocation to its REPowerEU chapter, reflecting national investment priorities, notably for energy renovation in buildings including dwellings, and zero fossil industries. Member States have used the BAR to support a broad range of measures, including support to businesses affected by new trade barriers, reinforcement of border and customs capacities, investments in port infrastructure and targeted support to the fisheries sector and coastal communities. In France, support focused notably on ports and infrastructure, fisheries, border management and business adaptation. In line with the BAR Regulation (EU) 2026/211 1 , the Commission will carry out an evaluation of the instrument by June 2027 and will submit an implementation report to the European Parliament and the Council by June 2028. 1 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2026/211/oj/eng.”
Cohesion and rural funding
- 2026-03-27 “E-000721/2026 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission The EU Agenda for Cities 1 reinforces the approach to urban development in areas such as housing, social inclusion and equality, mobility, climate and environment. Cities and other urban areas are supported to address challenges of today. The agenda emphasises the urban – rural linkages, and the logic is also embedded in policy objective 5 ‘Europe closer to citizens’ of cohesion policy funds 2021–2027 2 . The European Urban Initiative 3 under cohesion policy supports innovation and builds capacities of cities and provides policy learning, also on the effects of ever-increasing urbanisation. The quality of life in European cities survey 4 analyses perceptions of residents on issues such as mental health, access to green spaces, earning of a living and satisfaction with urban infrastructure. As to policy action contributing to voluntary relocation and related issues, the communication on harnessing talent in Europe’s regions 5 stepped up efforts to counter the risk of growing territorial disparities caused by demographic challenges. The talent booster mechanism offers technical assistance to some of the most affected regions. The multiannual financial framework proposal for 2028-2034 identifies the ‘right to stay’ as an enabler for sustainable prosperity across all EU regions under the proposal for a Regulation establishing European fund for economic, social and territorial cohesion, agriculture and rural, fisheries and maritime, prosperity and security 6 . 1 https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/information-sources/publications/communications/2025/eu-agenda-forcities-2025_en. 2 Regulation (EU) 2021/1058: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32021R1058. 3 https://www.urban-initiative.eu. 4 The survey covers 83 capital cities and other major cities in the EU, the EFTA, the UK, the Western Balkans and Turkey with a total of more than 70 000 interviews: https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/informationsources/publications/reports/2023/quality-of-life-in-european-cities_en. 5 Harnessing talent in Europe’s regions: https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/information-sources/publications/ communications/2023/harnessing-talent-in-europe-s-regions_en. 6 COM(2025) 565 final: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A52025PC0565&qid =1753801752960.”
Cohesion and rural funding · EU policy on urban development
- 2026-03-27 “E-000537/2026 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission 1. The Commission has not yet received an EU Solidarity Fund (EUSF) 1 application from Spain regarding the storms in January and February 2026. However, Spain has a deadline of 12 weeks as from the first damage occurred to submit an application, demonstrating that the total direct damage exceeds the thresholds specified in Article 2 Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002. 2. The Commission does its utmost to swiftly, yet thoroughly assess the applications submitted for the EUSF. In addition, the Commission stands ready to support and guide the authorities should they need aid in applying for the EUSF. 3. Following a request from the Spanish authorities to mobilise the agricultural reserve to support the agricultural sector affected by the storms, the Commission will examine the possibility to adopt exceptional measures under Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 2 . If a natural disaster occurs, national authorities may also grant, under certain conditions, support to farmers from their national budget in line with EU state aid rules. Additionally, Spain can decide to request an amendment of their Common Agricultural Policy Strategic Plan to provide crisis payments to active farmers that are affected by natural disasters and to reinforce the budget for investments to restore production potential. Concerning the Recovery and Resilience Facility, the Spanish Recovery and Resilience Plan 3 defines how the funds attributed to Spain are allocated. Spain can request to amend the plan to include new measures in cases of objective circumstances. However, new measures shall comply with the requirements outlined in Regulation (EU) 2021/241 4 , including an indicative timeline for the completion by 31 August 2026. 1 Council Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002 of 11 November 2002 establishing the European Union Solidarity Fund (OJ L 311, 14.11.2002, p. 3) as amended by Regulation (EU) No 661/2014 of the European Parliament and the Council of 15 May 2014 (OJ L 189, 27.6.2014, p. 143) and by Regulation (EU) 2020/461 of the European Parliament and the Council of 30 March 2020 (OJ L 99, 31.3.2020, p. 9): https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legalcontent/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:32002R2012. 2 Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 establishing a common organisation of the markets in agricultural products and repealing Council Regulations (EEC) No 922/72, (EEC) No 234/79, (EC) No 1037/2001 and (EC) No 1234/2007: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2013/1308/oj. 3 Annex to the Commission Proposal for a Council Implementing Decision amending the Implementing Decision of 13 July 2021 on the approval of the assessment of the recovery and resilience plan for Spain: https://commission.europa.eu/document/download/47a4cc03-061b-4158-a221f4ba10113a4c_en?filename=COM_2025_794_1_EN_annexe_proposition_cp_part1_v4%20%283%29_0.pdf. 4 Regulation (EU) 2021/241 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 February 2021 establishing the Recovery and Resilience Facility (OJ L57, 12.2.2021, p.17, Art. 18 (4) e: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/241/oj).”
Cohesion and rural funding
- 2026-03-27 “E-000354/2026 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission Island inhabitants are invited to be involved in defining the strategy’s framework through a public call for evidence, which was launched on 4 March 2026. This consultation provides an opportunity to contribute views on the challenges faced by EU islands and propose concrete solutions to these challenges. The call, which runs until 1 April 2026, is open to everyone with particular encouragement for contributions from island-based stakeholders, including local and regional authorities responsible for islands, community and grassroots organisations, youth networks, business associations and other civil society actors. Inputs received will contribute to shaping the strategy. The strategy will cover the EU islands of all sizes. Existing studies, contributions received during consultation and opinions from the Consultative Committees will be taken into account to ensure that the strategy reflects the diverse situations and challenges EU islands face. The EU Strategy for Coastal Communities, which will focus on coastal communities, will be adopted together with the EU Strategy for Islands.”
Cohesion and rural funding
- 2026-03-26 “E-000284/2026 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission 1. Cohesion policy is the main EU funding source for climate adaptation and risk management. During the 2021-2027 period, support is granted to cities, municipalities and regional authorities 1 . Cohesion policy programmes for 2021-2027 include planned investments of more than EUR 18 billion in climate adaptation and disaster risk management (over EUR 14 billion in EU funding). More specifically, the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) targets investments that are implemented based on integrated urban development strategies developed for cities and with their participation. This specific earmarking reaches almost 12% of the ERDF (more than EUR 24 billion) 2 . Several EU instruments complement adaptation efforts: EU Solidarity Fund 3 may help regions recover after major climate disasters; Recovery and Resilience Facility investments may include natural disaster preparedness actions; LIFE programme 4 , co-finances local and regional climate adaptation projects and nature-based solutions for risk prevention. 2. Cohesion policy funds do not directly target agricultural disease control. Their emphasis is on climate resilience, risk prevention and infrastructure adaptation to reduce climate-related stresses on agriculture. Common Agricultural Policy Strategic Plans 5 support investments for appropriate preventive measures and restoration of agricultural potential following outbreaks. Risk management tools and relevant sectoral interventions, including in the wine sector 6 , can help farmers manage disease-related risks and climate adaptation. The recent Wine Package 7 aims, among others, to prevent the spread of vine pests. 1 Examples include the development of local or regional climate adaptation strategies and risk management plans, climate hazard mapping and local resilience frameworks. 2 All amounts available in the Cohesion Open Data Platform on 01.02.2026, Open Data Portal for the European Structural Investment Funds : https://cohesiondata.ec.europa.eu/funds/erdf/21-27. 3 Inforegio - EU Solidarity Fund: https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/funding/solidarity-fund_en. 4 The Programme for the Environment and Climate Action: https://cinea.ec.europa.eu/programmes/life_en. 5 https://agriculture.ec.europa.eu/cap-my-country/cap-strategic-plans_en. 6 For example: restructuring and conversion of vineyards. 7 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=COM:2025:137:FIN.”
Cohesion and rural funding
- 2026-03-18 “E-000321/2026 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission In 2023, the Commission adopted a comprehensive approach to mental health, with EUR 1.3 billion in funding opportunities. It supports the Member States through capacity building actions, and calls on them to use the European funds available. Under shared management of regional programmes between local decision makers and the Commission, financial support is determined on the basis of priorities established at the level of each region. Accordingly, the European Regional Development Fund supports investment in health infrastructure (EUR 32 million in Réunion, EUR 3.7 million in Saint Martin) and infrastructure and equipment for training and research in the area of health (EUR 5 million and EUR 17 million in Guadeloupe). EUR 30.2 million have been invested in the hospital centre of Mayotte. Furthermore, the European Social Fund+ contributes to activities to develop and promote health and medical training. Funding implemented under direct and indirect management can also be used. Erasmus+ helps support cooperation in education. Horizon Europe supports research and innovation projects, including in the area of mental health. The ‘EU4Health’ programme funds the EUPROMENS training and exchange programme. For the next multiannual financial framework, the Commission’s proposal reflects the constraints on the outermost regions as recognised by Article 349 TFEU 1 . It calls on the Member States to include specific measures for the outermost regions in the national and regional partnership plans, particularly as regards access to health. 1 https://eurlex.europa.eu/eli/treaty/tfeu_2012/art_349/oj/eng?eliuri=eli%3Atreaty%3Atfeu_2012%3Aart_349%3Aoj&locale =en.”
Funding for OCTs and outermost regions
- 2026-03-18 “Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission 18.3.2026 Written question According to EU legislation [1] , to ensure connectivity to isolated regions, including islands, Member States may impose Public Service Obligations setting fixed standards of continuity, regularity, pricing or minimum capacity, if the market itself does not deliver an acceptable level of air services to such regions [2] . This can include preferential/maximum prices for residents. Social aid schemes support air transport and ferry services for residents of remote regions [3] . To preserve connectivity, Member States may exempt passenger ships serving small islands from low-carbon fuel obligations until 31 December 2029 [4] . The Commission proposal for the 2028-2034 Multiannual Financial Framework [5] foresees the introduction of National and Regional Partnership Plans elaborated by the Member States and supporting economic, social and territorial cohesion. The new approach aims to promote a more coherent, flexible and coordinated use of EU resources for investments and reform across the policy areas. This framework is also intended to provide greater flexibility to design targeted, place-based solutions for territories facing permanent natural or demographic constraints, including islands. Territorial development may be supported through integrated territorial strategies, allowing islands to unlock development potential and address structural challenges such as accessibility and connectivity. The Commission does not propose a separate financial mechanism or measures exclusively dedicated to island connectivity. However, t he review [6] of the Air Services Regulation is considering possible measures to help ensure sustainable and affordable connectivity, including in the EU islands. [1] Regulation (EC) No 1008/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 September 2008 on common rules for the operation of air services in the Community, OJ L 293, 31.10.2008, p. 3-20. [2] In Greece, there are currently Public Service Obligations on 28 routes. [3] based on Article 107(2)(a) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:12008E107. [4] Article 2(3) of the regulation (EU) No 2023/1805 on the use of renewable and low-carbon fuels in maritime transport, and amending Directive 2009/16/EC. [5] COM (2025)570: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52025DC0570. [6] https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/14620-Aviation-EU-air-services-rules-revision-_en.”
Funding for OCTs and outermost regions · Cohesion and rural funding
- 2026-03-17 “E-000254/2026 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission Both ex ante and ex post controls are applied to ensure compliance with EU standards in projects funded by the Cohesion Policy Funds and the Recovery and Resilience Facility. These controls include monitoring mechanisms, reporting requirements and audits to verify that EU funds are used appropriately and in line with EU rules. However, the primary responsibility for preventing, detecting and correcting irregularities lies with Member States. Member States are required to establish effective management and control systems, including anti-fraud measures. The Commission's role is supervisory, ensuring that Member States fulfil their obligations and intervening when deficiencies are identified. Regarding the judicial investigations in Spain, the Commission is aware of the allegations of irregularities in the awarding of public contracts in the Koldo case. While the investigation and prosecution of such cases fall under the competence of Spanish judicial authorities, the Commission is cooperating with national authorities to safeguard the financial interests of the EU. The Commission monitors developments closely and takes action when appropriate. In cases where inadequate controls or irregularities are detected, the Commission can take measures such as suspending payments or recovering EU funds wrongly used. The Commission remains committed to ensuring the integrity and transparency of EU financial resources.”
Rule of law in Spain · Accounting and auditing of EU budget
- 2026-03-17 “E-000355/2026 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission Aligned with the Treaty on the EU, the Commission condemns all animal cruelty. The Commission adopted a proposal for a Regulation on the welfare of dogs and cats 1 setting standards for their management in shelters. A provisional agreement has been reached 2 and the Regulation will soon be adopted by the European Parliament and the Council. Stray dog management remains within the responsibilities of a Member State. The Commission remains committed to ensuring that EU funds are used in accordance with EU law. Under shared management, the Member State is responsible at first place for the management and control of programmes funded by the EU Funds. 1. Under the current and previous programming periods, the cohesion policy programmes for Hungary do not include stray dog management as eligible activities. Member States authorities are responsible for selecting operations for support while respecting all eligibility criteria. Regarding EU-funding under shared management, based on the requirements of the Common Provisions Regulation 3 , a list of supported projects is publicly available on the website of the responsible Hungarian authority 4 . 2. Stray dog management activities are not eligible in Hungary’s programmes and any expenditures related to such activities have not been declared for reimbursement from EU funds. If verifications, audits or other controls reveal that EU Funds were used for ineligible activities, the corresponding expenditures will have to be recovered or replaced by eligible expenditure. 3. The Commission takes reports from civil society regarding the misuse of funds seriously. To date, the Commission has not received formal complaints showing evidence that EU funds were misused for stray dog management in Hungary. 1 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:52023PC0769. 2 https://www.europarl.europa.eu/meetdocs/2024_2029/plmrep/COMMITTEES/AGRI/LA/2026/0112/1334329EN.pdf. 3 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32021R1060 : Article 49(3). 4 https://www.palyazat.gov.hu.”
Conditions to access EU budget · Accounting and auditing of EU budget
- 2026-03-13 “E-000323/2026 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission Several measures are implemented under the Spanish Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) that concern directly the maintenance, adaptation and modernisation of the Spanish railway network, most notably investments: C1.I3 – Measures to improve the attractiveness and accessibility of the railway network, C6.I1 – National transmission network European Corridors, C6.I2 – Trans-European Network for Transport Program, Other Works, C6.I3 – Intermodality and Logistics and C6.I4 – Support Programme for Sustainable and Digital Transport 1 . The Commission is yet to assess the satisfactory fulfilment of these railway measures, given that their completion is only due by the second quarter of 2026 and they are expected to be submitted in the last payment request. The Commission assesses the fulfilment of milestones and targets under the Spanish RRP in line with the requirements in the respective Council Implementing Decision 2 . Should the Commission deem that milestones and targets associated with the railway investments are not satisfactorily fulfilled, it can suspend the payment of EU funds pursuant to Article 24 of the Recovery and Resilience Facility Regulation 3 . 1 Council Implementing Decision amending the Implementing Decision of 13 July 2021 on the approval of the assessment of the recovery and resilience plan for Spain, 17031/25 + ADD1 + COR1. 2 Council Implementing Decision amending the Implementing Decision of 13 July 2021 on the approval of the assessment of the recovery and resilience plan for Spain, 17031/25 + ADD1 + COR1. 3 Regulation (EU) 2021/241 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 February 2021 establishing the Recovery and Resilience Facility, OJ L 57, 18.2.2021, pp. 17–75.”
EU support of rail transport · EU funding for transportation
- 2026-03-13 “P-000483/2026 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission 1. A balanced development towards a multimodal, smart and sustainable mobility requires adequate investment in all transport modes, including roads, at Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), national, regional and local levels to meet mobility needs of citizens and businesses. Cohesion policy funds can be used within the framework of regional development programmes to finance roads, including sections of the TEN-T that do not cross borders. However, financing roads is not an investment priority in the 2021-2027 programming period, as increased capacity for individual motorised transport might lead to more congestion and pollution from private car use, especially in urban environments. New infrastructure can be financed from the cohesion policy funds where this is in line with the specific objectives of the Funds and the objectives of the programme, for example to address objectives relating to balancing out regional disparities for connectivity, road safety, etc. While support has been granted under the Connecting Europe Facility to certain road projects 1 notably concerning cross-border sections or the upgrading of sections with poor safety record on the TEN-T, projects concerning motorway infrastructure in urban areas are not eligible under the Facility. 2. The selection criteria for cohesion policy co-financed projects are decided by programme managing authorities and monitoring committees and therefore depend on local circumstances and regional development strategies. 1 https://dashboard.tech.ec.europa.eu/qs_digit_dashboard_mt/public/sense/app/3744499f-670f-42f8-9ef30d98f6cd586f/sheet/d2820200-d4d9-4a26-b23b-58e323c803c2/state/analysis.”
EU funding for transportation · Road transport environmental policy
- 2026-03-12 “P-000378/2026 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission 1. The EU Solidarity Fund (EUSF) 1 can only be activated at the request of Italy which has a deadline of 12 weeks as from the first damage occurred, demonstrating that the total direct damage exceeds the thresholds specified in Article 2 Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002. The EUSF may cover a part of the costs for emergency and recovery operations incurred by public authorities 2 . The Commission stands ready to support and guide the authorities should they wish to apply for EUSF support. Italy can request assistance via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) 3 . This enables the Emergency Response Cooperation Centre to coordinate and mobilise support from other Member States and UCPM participating states, such as specialised equipment or response teams for emergency operations. 2. The Commission recalls that the Regional Emergency Support to Reconstruction Regulation 4 applies to natural disasters occurring between 1 January 2024 and 31 December 2025. This temporal scope reflects a sunset clause introduced by the co-legislators as part of a broader compromise reached during the legislative negotiations. 3. The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) programmes for Calabria, Sardinia and Sicily currently include around EUR 352 million to prevent and manage the risks caused by natural disasters. Out of this amount, EUR 196 million have been allocated to selected operations as of 31 December 2025, while EUR 156 million are still available to support new interventions under the abovementioned programmes. While the ERDF cannot be used to cover emergency interventions and general reconstruction needs, it could be used for the creation and the upgrade of infrastructure to improve resilience. 1 Council Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002 of 11 November 2002 establishing the European Union Solidarity Fund (OJ L 311, 14.11.2002, p. 3) as amended by Regulation (EU) No 661/2014 of the European Parliament and the Council of 15 May 2014 (OJ L 189, 27.6.2014, p. 143) and by Regulation (EU) 2020/461 of the European Parliament and the Council of 30 March 2020 (OJ L 99, 31.3.2020, p. 9). https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legalcontent/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:32002R2012. 2 This means, for example, the recovery of essential infrastructure, provision of temporary accommodation to the population, cleaning-up operations, and protection of the cultural heritage. 3 https://civil-protection-humanitarian-aid.ec.europa.eu/what/civil-protection/eu-civil-protection-mechanism_en. 4 Regulation (EU) 2024/3236 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 December 2024 amending Regulations (EU) 2021/1057 and (EU) 2021/1058 as regards Regional Emergency Support to Reconstruction (RESTORE). http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/3236/oj.”
EU Development & Humanitarian Aid · Cohesion and rural funding
- 2026-03-09 “E-004734/2025 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission 1. This project is part of investment M2C2.I4.2 of the Italian recovery and resilience plan (RRP) 1 , ‘Development of rapid mass transport systems’. The final target of this measure (M2C2-26), concerning the completion of the activities supported by the investment, will be assessed in 2026 in the context of the 10 th payment request. 2. The proper implementation of the measures included in the plan falls under the Member State’s responsibility, including respect of EU acquis. The Commission monitors the implementation of the measures included in the Italian RRP by assessing the satisfactorily fulfilment of milestones and targets in the context of payment requests, in line with Article 24 of Regulation (EU) 2021/241 2 . The assessment is based on the requirements outlined in the Annex to the Council Implementing Decision on the approval of the assessment of the RRP for Italy 3 . 3. Member States’ authorities, including the judiciary, are primarily responsible to ensure the compliance of the specific projects undertaken in the context of their national RRP with national and EU law. EU legislation concerning road infrastructure safety management, namely Directive 2008/96/EC 4 , does not impose the use of any standard; this falls in the remit of the competent authorities of the Member States. 1 https://commission.europa.eu/business-economy-euro/economic-recovery/recovery-and-resiliencefacility/country-pages/italys-recovery-and-resilience-plan_en. 2 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/241/oj/eng. 3 https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-15114-2024-ADD-1-REV-1/en/pdf. 4 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2008/96/oj/eng.”
Cohesion and rural funding
- 2026-03-04 “E-000285/2026 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission 1. Cohesion policy operates under shared management. Thus, Member States and the respective managing authorities are responsible for the implementation of the programmes and providing funding to beneficiaries. The managing authorities are in charge of launching calls for proposals and selecting operations, in line with each programme’s investment strategy. Municipal and regional authorities can apply for financing from cohesion policy programmes 1 . 2. Apart from the new specific objective ‘supporting investments aimed at reconstruction in response to a natural disaster that occurs between 1 January 2024 and 31 December 2025’, Regional Emergency Support to Reconstruction (RESTORE) did not change the scope of support under Regulation 2021/1058 2 . The managing authority ensures that the planned reconstruction investments in response to a natural disaster align with the new specific objective and the programme. Recital 5 of RESTORE Regulation 2024/3236 3 clarifies that reconstruction investments in response to natural disasters may cover the ‘restoration of damaged or destroyed infrastructure, such as public infrastructure (…)’. The total amount of EU funding mobilised under RESTORE is EUR 1.9 billion 4 . By way of more concrete examples, Member States allocated EUR 337 million to climate change adaptation, prevention, and management of climate-related risks, and EUR 265 million to the reconstruction and modernisation of roads. 1 https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/in-your-country/programmes_en. 2 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A02021R1058-20250920. 3 : https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/3236/oj/eng. 4 As of 9 February 2026.”
Cohesion and rural funding
- 2026-03-03 “E-000059/2026 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission 1. As for each programme funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) in Italy, an Administrative Regeneration Plan (‘PRiGA’) has been drafted for the Regional Programme Sicily 1 (‘RP’). The PRiGA sets objectives, actions, resources and indicators to face administrative capacity needs for a smooth implementation of the RP. In support of the plan, the regional authorities can make use of the technical assistance priority of both the ERDF programme (EUR 134.4 million) and the European Social Fund+ (ESF+) programme (EUR 42.4 million). Some actions in the PRiGA are supported by the National Programme ‘Capacity for Cohesion’, which also supports the RP by providing on-demand expertise services and by hiring permanent staff to be allocated in the Regional administration for its implementation 2 . Additional assistance to Italy for administrative capacity is currently provided by the Commission also through the Technical Support Instrument (TSI) 3 . 2. The RP Sicily allocates EUR 331 million (ERDF) for measures of specific support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) 4 . With regard to the ESF+, the RP priority 4 (EUR 204 million) is entirely dedicated to youth employment. Moreover, promotion of employment and skills, especially among young people, is among the priorities of the national programme Youth, Women and Jobs, which focuses mainly on southern regions 5 . The Single Market Programme (SME Pillar) provides guidance and free advice to SMEs via the Enterprise Europe Network 6 . A broader support comes from calls for proposals in sectors such as tourism 7 . 1 https://priga.capcoe.gov.it/news/dettaglio/l1yYGZUBIId_J40Uy7FR. 2 According to the information available to the Commission, out of the 70 hirings planned, 56 persons have already been hired and entered into service by January 2026. In addition, the service centre is currently being set up to complement the activities already in place. Other support activities may be activated by the relevant administrations and contracting authorities within the scope of individual economic frameworks. 3 For example, with the ‘Next generation Behavioural Public Administration in Italy’ project in Italy, the TSI is supporting the Department of Public Administration to improve the planning process for Italian administrations, especially at the regional and local level through their PIAO (Piano Integrato di Attività e Organizzazione) plans. Improving the PIAO process for regional and local authorities helps them set clearer priorities, convert them into feasible initiatives with measurable targets and accountability, and align people, skills, and organisation to improve their implementation capacity. 4 Operational details on these opportunities can be found in the programme website: https://www.euroinfosicilia.it/bandi-e-avvisi-pr-fesr-21-27/. 5 The National Programme allocates EUR 1.9 billion out of its total ESF+ budget of EUR 2.7 billion to the south of Italy. 6 Including local network contacts in Sicily: Local contact points in Italy | Enterprise Europe Network: https://een.ec.europa.eu/local-contact-points/it. 7 Calls for proposals - European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA):”
Cohesion and rural funding
- 2026-02-26 “P-000096/2026 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission The programme authorities in charge of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) submitted the closure package on 13 February 2026 which the Commission is currently assessing. The expenditure declared and paid out to date for the ERDF amounts to EUR 226 million. In relation to REACT-EU 1 , the programme authorities reported in the closure package that an amount of EUR 5.9 million could not be spent. The programme authorities submitted the closure package related to the European Social Fund (ESF) programme in January 2025. Eligible expenditure declared amounted to EUR 136 million, of which EUR 128.9 million was paid by the Commission. While the ESF allocation was fully absorbed, EUR 7.2 million related to REACT-EU could not be spent and was decommitted at closure. As the closure process of the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) programme has not started yet, the final figures are not available. The final quarterly expenditure declaration and the closure package are to be submitted in 2026. As of 21 November 2025, declared and paid expenditure amounted to EUR 401 million. There are no financial corrections regarding the ESF. As the Commission is currently assessing the closure package of the ERDF and as the closure of the EAFRD has not started yet, the Commission is not in a position to provide any information on possible financial corrections at this point. 1 https://commission.europa.eu/funding-tenders/find-funding/eu-funding-programmes/react-eu_en.”
Cohesion and rural funding · Accounting and auditing of EU budget
- 2026-02-26 “E-000191/2026 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission The Commission political guidelines 2024–2029 1 include a commitment to consider the specific economic and social challenges islands are facing. This commitment is reflected in the mission letter 2 of Executive Vice-President for Cohesion and Reforms and was further reinforced in the cohesion policy mid-term review proposal of 1 April 2025, which set out to launch a consultation on the development of an EU strategy for islands and confirmed in the Commission’s Work Programme for 2026 3 . This commitment builds on a wide range of EU policies and initiatives covering islands and aims to ensure a more aligned and coordinated approach to addressing their diverse challenges, both directly and indirectly. The preparation of an EU strategy for islands, including actions at EU and national level, also responds to the European Parliament resolution 4 the Honourable Member refers to and its call for an islands pact and a European action plan for islands. Given the diversity of EU islands and the wide variety of their socio-economic profiles, tailormade approaches are needed. Cohesion policy, which addresses regional, economic, and social disparities and considers specific local needs, gives particular attention to these areas, as set out in Article 174 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. In the 20212027 period, at least EUR 19.3 billion are allocated from cohesion policy 5 to islands, to support investments for competitiveness, green transition, better connectivity, housing, sustainable tourism and inclusive growth. 1 Political Guidelines 2024-2029: https://commission.europa.eu/document/e6cd4328-673c-4e7a-8683f63ffb2cf648_en. 2 The mission letter of Executive Vice-President for Cohesion and Reforms: https://commission.europa.eu/document/download/1bf50cbe-45a4-4dc5-992252c6c2d3959f_en?filename=Mission%20letter%20-%20FITTO.pdf. 3 Commission Work Programme 2026: https://commission.europa.eu/document/download/05d3777d-5d73-456dbf56-38caa77d53c8_en?filename=2025-CWP_0.pdf. 4 European Parliament resolution of on EU islands and cohesion policy: current situation and future challenges: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2022-0225_EN.html. 5 The European Regional Development Fund, the Cohesion Fund, the Just Transition Fund and the European Social Fund Plus.”
Cohesion and rural funding
- 2026-02-10 “P-000087/2026 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission The organisation of national public administrations, including the legal status of civil servants, is the responsibility of Member States. In doing this, Member States must uphold the rule of law and ensure that their administrative systems can effectively implement EU law and policies as well as manage EU funds following the principles of sound financial management, legality and regularity. The Commission reports annually on the rule of law, including on institutional issues related to checks and balances and supports administrative cooperation, dialogue, as well as provides technical support and financial assistance to improve capacity and quality of public administrations. In the context of the European Semester, Czechia received a country-specific recommendation to strengthen the capacity of its public administration to attract, retain and develop talent as well as strengthen strategic steering capacities to improve consistency across policies. In addition, under the Recovery and Resilience Facility, Czechia receives support to modernise its public administration, including human ressources management reforms, which will be assessed against the relevant milestones and targets. On cohesion policy, the Partnership agreement for 2021-2027 explicitly references administrative capacity as a key prerequisite for effective EU fund management. The Commission is aware of the legislative proposal at national level to replace the state civil service act and is analysing its implications for the professionalism, stability and institutional independence of the civil service as well as its capacity to implement EU law and policies effectively.”
Conditions to access EU budget · EU Supervision of the Rule of Law
- 2026-01-28 “E-004627/2025 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission 1. The Commission carried out an audit on Integrated Territorial Investment (ITI) Danube Delta operations in 2023. The audit conclusions were sent to the Romanian authorities and have led to a number of actions that need to be implemented by the Romanian authorities in order to address the deficiencies identified in the audit. The findings of the audit were complex and require an extensive follow-up from the authorities to implement all recommendations, including financial corrections. Commission audit reports are sent to the concerned national authorities but are not published. 2. A number of projects were affected by irregularities and there are ongoing follow-up actions by the Romanian authorities to correct those irregularities, as identified by the Commission audit report. The Commission is monitoring the implementation of those corrective actions. 3. According to the Commission’s practice, audit reports are not published, even once finalised. They are being sent to the Member State concerned as part of the Commission’s usual practice, first for a contradictory procedure and second as a final audit report for implementation of the audit recommendations. The same applies to reports resulting from the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) investigations. It is not for the Commission to publish any findings of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) investigations, as the EPPO is fully independent from the Commission.”
Transparency requirements of EU institutions · Accounting and auditing of EU budget
- 2026-01-27 “E-004714/2025 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission 1. In 2021-2027, Cohesion Policy supports investments in drinking water supply and water resource conservation across Greece, with an EU contribution of EUR 515.5 million. As part of the ongoing Mid-Term Review, Attica and other Greek regions are expected to benefit from increased financial resources under the relevant programmes to strengthen secure access to water, sustainable and integrated water management, and water resilience. Moreover, Greece’s Recovery and Resilience Plan 1 prioritised the establishment of a water regulatory authority to improve the sustainability of water utility operations and investments. The plan also supports the development of water supply and water-saving infrastructure. The decisions on project prioritisation and implementation locations lie with the competent Greek authorities. If a disaster exceeds national response capacities, a country can request assistance through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) 2 , enabling the Emergency Response Cooperation Centre to mobilise support from other EU Member States and Participating States, such as specialised equipment or response teams. Greece did not request its activation in this case. 2. Water scarcity is a manmade disaster and not a natural disaster. Member States and accession countries suffering from water scarcity are not eligible for assistance from the EU Solidarity Fund (EUSF) 3 . The European Water Resilience Strategy 4 supports access to clean, affordable water through improved water resource management, increased water efficiency and wastewater reuse. Among these actions is the effective implementation of Water Framework Directive 5 , which obliges Member States to protect the ecological and chemical status of their water bodies. 1 https://commission.europa.eu/business-economy-euro/economic-recovery/recovery-and-resiliencefacility/country-pages/greeces-recovery-and-resilience-plan_en. 2 EU Civil Protection Mechanism: https://civil-protection-humanitarian-aid.ec.europa.eu/what/civilprotection/eu-civil-protection-mechanism_en. 3 Council Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002 of 11 November 2002 establishing the European Union Solidarity Fund (OJ L 311, 14.11.2002, p. 3) as amended by Regulation (EU) No 661/2014 of the European Parliament and the Council of 15 May 2014 (OJ L 189, 27.6.2014, p. 143) and by Regulation (EU) 2020/461 of the European Parliament and the Council of 30 March 2020 (OJ L 99, 31.3.2020, p. 9). https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legalcontent/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:32002R2012. 4 https://commission.europa.eu/topics/environment/water-resilience-strategy_en. 5 Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy, OJ L 327, 22.12.2000, p.1.”
Climate efforts
- 2026-01-27 “E-004579/2025 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission 1. The Commission acknowledges the challenges faced by the Aegean islands, including limited transport, health infrastructure, natural hazards and pressure linked to migration. In the 2021–2027 programming period, the cohesion policy regional programmes for South and North Aegean benefit from increased allocation (EUR 679 million total public funding versus EUR 424.1 million in 2014-2020) 1 , including resources targeted at port infrastructures and road network (EUR 56 million), health and hospital infrastructures (EUR 28 million) and healthcare services (EUR 9.4 million). Additionally, the regions receive support from funding provided through sectoral programmes. The Commission also supports Greece in managing migration, with a focus on the Greek islands. Since 2015, over EUR 5 billion 2 in EU funding have been given to support actions such as accommodation facilities on the islands and services for third-country nationals in the East Aegean. Furthermore, measure 16931 of the Greek recovery and resilience plan 3 consists of actions to upgrade touristic ports and promote sustainable development initiatives (green and blue development), including in the Aegean islands. 2. Under the two regional programmes, through the European regional development fund, some EUR 43 million are foreseen for support to small and medium-sized enterprises’ competitiveness aiming to strengthen entrepreneurship, improve productivity and support sectors where the Aegean islands have demonstrated economic potential and comparative advantages, in line with the national smart specialisation strategy. The regions can also benefit from the resources allocated under the national programme ‘competitiveness’. 1 https://www.pepba.gr/; https:/www./pepna.gr/. 2 This refers to financial support under the asylum, migration and integration fund, the internal security fund and the emergency support instrument for the 2014-2020 multiannual financial framework as well as support under the asylum, migration and integration fund, the border management and visa instrument and the internal security fund for the 2021-2027 multiannual financial framework. 3 https://commission.europa.eu/business-economy-euro/economic-recovery/recovery-and-resiliencefacility/country-pages/greeces-recovery-and-resilience-plan_en.”
Cohesion and rural funding
- 2026-01-23 “E-004425/2025 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission The Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) is a performance-based instrument, providing financial support to Member States for implementing a combination of reforms and investments, outlined in the recovery and resilience plans (RRPs) approved by the Council. The Commission will assess the completion of the projects financed by the RRF in line with the requirements embedded in the relevant milestones and targets as outlined in the Annex to the Council Implementing Decision on the approval of Italy’s RRP 1 . Member States’ authorities are responsible for the selection of the projects financed under the RRF and are primarily responsible to ensure the compliance of the projects undertaken in the context of their national RRP with national and EU law. Regarding the planned construction of the new telecom tower in Treggiaia, Investment 3: Fast internet connections (Ultra-Broadband and 5G) – in particular, the target M1C2-21 – of Italy’s RRP includes targets in terms of 5G coverage of market failure areas. As indicated by Italy in the notification of the ‘Italia 5G’ measure and in Commission decision SA.100557, information on existing physical infrastructure has been made available to the concessionaire, in order to allow it to consider the reuse of such infrastructure in light of its network requirements. 1 Council Implementing Decision of 25 November 2025 amending the Implementing Decision of 13 July 2021 on the approval of the assessment of the recovery and resilience plan for Italy, ST 15106/25.”
5G · EU industrial funding
- 2026-01-23 “E-004656/2025 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission According to information received from the national authorities, ‘Hellenic Cadastre’ (HC) has a government-to-government programme agreement with the National Documentation Centre (NDC) for developing a platform for collecting real estate transactions and producing marketability reports. NDC cooperated with private company Prosperity to implement the platform. The company in question is neither an HC contractor, nor received EU structural funds financing. The cost of the agreement between NDC and HC is covered by HC own resources. The EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) 1 provides for the conditions for lawful processing of personal data, including collection, storage and generation of statistics, including the obligation to take appropriate data security measures. Member States have a primary responsibility to monitor the application of the relevant legal provisions and to take the necessary steps for enforcement. Enforcement of the GDPR lies with the national data protection authorities and courts. Any natural and legal persons acting as a controller or processor of personal data, including public authorities are subject to the GDPR. The supervision and enforcement of the GDPR falls within the competence of the national supervisory authorities and courts, without prejudice to the competences of the Commission as guardian of the Treaties. Then, it will be for these national authorities to notably control that no personal data within the meaning of GDPR were provided by HC to NDC as only aggregated statistical form are claimed to have been sent. 1 Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive 95/46/EC (General Data Protection Regulation), OJ L 119, 4.5.2016, p. 1–88.”
Privacy & digital economy · Accounting and auditing of EU budget
- 2026-01-16 “E-004630/2025 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission 1. Greece has allocated EUR 1.46 billion from Cohesion Policy 1 to support integrated territorial strategies (ITIs), including for remote and small areas. These locally designed strategies prioritise, among other 2 , the promotion of the areas as tourist destinations. In addition, the 2023-2027 common agricultural policy (CAP) Strategic Plan for Greece also includes ‘Liaison Entre Actions de Développement de l'Économie Rurale’ (LEADER) links between activities for the development of rural economy, local development, support to investments and rural business start-ups, cooperation and technical assistance 3 . Finally, the Creative Europe Programme offers opportunities for cultural heritage which can be a driver for social and economic development, especially in rural areas 45 . 2. Greece has recently adopted its Administrative Capacity Building Roadmap under the ‘Technical Assistance’ programme, to strengthen small municipalities in preparing and implementing co-financed projects, within their approved ITIs. The proposal for the 2028-2034 Multiannual Financial Framework, foresees a budget increase and higher technical assistance rates for Interreg 6 . Interreg will continue to support territorial approaches, including smaller municipalities, and tourism. Furthermore, technical assistance is available to the Member States under the CAP Strategic Plan. 3. Under Cohesion Policy, Member States must ensure equal access to all beneficiaries. Tools such as Project Advisory Support Service Agreement and Technical Assistance and Information Exchange 7 support administrative capacity, while the Commission shares best practices, including through the CAP Network 89 , and provides advice in the Monitoring Committee on implementation and selection criteria. 1 Under the 13 regional programmes. 2 ITIs also promote accessibility and connectivity, circular and blue economy, energy and digital transition, local entrepreneurship, social infrastructure. 3 Including networking-particularly relevant for traditional rural infrastructure and soft tourism. 4 Actions such as the European Heritage Awards have been highlighting outstanding achievements in the field of cultural heritage from rural regions on a European level, thus providing best practise examples for communities facing similar challenges in Greece and beyond. Moreover, the European Heritage Label provides supports to the heritage sector through networking, capacity building and some direct funding opportunities. 5 No funding of infrastructure works. 6 Greece participates in five 2021-2027 Interreg cross-border cooperation programmes with its neighbours with whom it shares land or maritime border (Italy, Cyprus, Bulgaria, North Macedonia and Albania). Cross-border programmes covering NUTS3 regions support small-scale operations which may include beneficiaries such as smaller municipalities who would like to work with their counterparts on the other side of the border. 7 PASSA and TAIEX. 8 Technical assistance in the CAP Strategic Plan is managed in a shared mode in line with Articles 94 and 125 of Regulation 2021/2115.”
EU strategy for tourism development · Cohesion and rural funding
- 2026-01-15 “E-004245/2025 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission In its proposal of 16 July 2025 for the 2028-2034 Multiannual Financial Framework 1 , the Commission proposed the creation of a European Fund for economic, social and territorial cohesion, agriculture and rural, fisheries and maritime, prosperity and security. A separate European Island Fund is not part of the Commission proposals for 2028-2034. Instead, a single set of rules applicable to the European Fund will promote stronger synergies across policies and instruments and should provide greater flexibility for Member States and regions to design and support comprehensive strategies and initiatives at the relevant territorial level. Notably, this will enable islands to address their specific needs and constraints and unlock their development potential. The new Fund includes specific safeguards in that respect and notably provides for the possibility to support territorial development through integrated territorial strategies, including community-led local development. 1 COM (2025) 570-571.”
Funding for OCTs and outermost regions · Cohesion and rural funding
- 2026-01-13 “E-004570/2025 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission The Commission is committed to ensuring a just transition towards a climate-neutral economy, taking into account environmental, economic, and social aspects. In the 2021-2027 period, the Just Transition Mechanism allocates around EUR 55 billion to mitigate the impacts of the transition. The Just Transition Fund (JTF) is a key pillar of the Mechanism with a total allocation of about EUR 19.7 billion. The Commission's proposal for the 2028-2034 Multiannual Financial Framework continues to address the just transition. This is reflected in specific objective 1, ‘Europe sustainable prosperity across all regions’ point iii) of the proposed European Economic, Territorial, Social, Rural and Maritime Sustainable Prosperity and Security Fund. The introduction of greater flexibility through the National and Regional Partnership Plans (NRP Plans) will enable Member States to support the transition of carbon-intensive industrial centres -such as Syracuse- currently not covered by the JTF. Member States may design territorial just transition strategies that include these areas, provided that their needs are clearly identified and justified in the NRP Plan. The involvement of local authorities, social partners and businesses will remain key, as the partnership principle will continue to apply.”
Cohesion and rural funding
- 2026-01-08 “E-003790/2025 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission 1 The unique situation of the Danube Delta and the importance of its ecosystem demands particular attention within the meaning of Article 174 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) 1 . Via EU cohesion policy, Member States conduct their economic policies and coordinate them in such a way to attain the objectives set out in Article 174. The place-based approach of cohesion policy provides Member States with flexibility to allocate funding to regions based on identified needs to address socio-economic and territorial disparities. 2 The TFEU establishes the legal framework for the outermost regions and the adoption of specific measures applicable to them. Any change to this list of regions and the description of their specific characteristics would require an amendment of the Treaty. 3 Cohesion policy investments have been supporting the sustainable development of the Danube Delta through a specific ‘integrated territorial investment’ instrument. With more than EUR 400 million in the 2021-27 period earmarked across different programmes, these investments contribute directly to the achievement of the objectives of the Integrated Sustainable Development Strategy of the Danube Delta. The Danube Delta also benefits from international cooperation projects from several territorial cooperation programmes (Interreg), including the Danube Region, Romania-Bulgaria, and Black Sea Basin. Interreg priorities focus on promoting climate change adaptation, enhancing inclusive and qualitative social services, developing research and innovation. The region is also a major focus of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region. This macroregional strategy addresses shared challenges including environment, transport, and economy. 1 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/LSU/?uri=CELEX:12016E174.”
Cohesion and rural funding · Funding for OCTs and outermost regions
- 2025-12-22 “E-004399/2025 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission The Commission agrees that cable cars can support tourism, recreation and public transport. Several EU regions and cities already have significant experience integrating them into their transport systems 1 . Cohesion policy programmes 2 can, in principle, support cable car projects in European regions and cities 3 . Under shared management governing these funds, project selection is the Member States’ responsibility, provided choices align with the respective Programme and the National Transport Plan and contribute to holistic sustainable urban mobility measures. Local authorities may also include such interventions within their Integrated Territorial Investment strategies. As a rule, operating and maintenance costs are not eligible 4 . The Recovery and Resilience Plans (RRPs) under the Recovery and Resilience Facility Regulation 5 may also include measures regarding the installation and operation of cable cars 6 . There are no EU specific rules on the installation of cable cars. However, Regulation (EU) 2016/424 governs cableways installations designed to carry persons, ensuring a high and uniform level of safety while facilitating the free movement for components. It also establishes forms of cooperation between Member States' authorities and stakeholders primarily focused on market surveillance, safety compliance, and coordinated action against risks 7 . European cooperation on market surveillance takes place through an informal group, called Administrative Cooperation Group on the Cableways Regulation. Finally, many organisations, conferences, trade shows and exhibitions facilitate exchange of best practices and experience at international, European and national level between manufacturers and of cable car systems. 1 For example, in Toulouse (“3S”), Brest (“Bibus téléphérique”), Gaia (“Teleférico de Gaia”), or Koblenz (“Seilbahn Koblenz”). 2 A first entry point for obtaining more information about cohesion policy funding can be obtained via: https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/in-your-country_en. 3 This support can cover all stages of the project cycle, i.e. studies, development, and implementation. 4 However, the specific opportunities for obtaining such support would need to be explored on a case-by-case basis. 5 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32021R0241. 6 For instance, Measure 16735 of the Greek RRP, which aims to improve physical access to cultural venues, including for older people and persons with disabilities. 7 More information available here: https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/sectors/mechanicalengineering/cableways_en.”
EU transport infrastructure integration · EU funding for transportation
- 2025-12-22 “E-004340/2025 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission In full respect of the Member States’ responsibility for organising and delivering health services 1 including prioritising public health infrastructure projects on cancer care and screening, Cohesion Policy and the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) funding support Member States in improving equal access to healthcare and strengthening the resilience of health systems. EU-wide, EUR 7.3 billion from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and Interreg, and some EUR 3.8 billion from the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) 2 , as well as about EUR 42 billion from the RRF, are channelled to health-related investments, including measures to enhance access to specialist healthcare services 3 . For the 2021-2027 period, Greece has earmarked EUR 362 million from the ERDF and EUR 250 million from the ESF+ in public funding for investments aimed at improving the accessibility and effectiveness of its healthcare services including the purchase of state-ofthe-art medical equipment. The EU supports health reforms and investments under the Greek recovery and resilience plan, such as the renovation of 156 primary healthcare units and 80 hospitals, the creation of 312 chronic disease management units across the country, as well as the ‘Implementation of the National Public Health Prevention Program Spiros Doxiadis’, providing breast, cervical and colorectal cancer screening as well as cardiovascular disease screening to the Greek population 4 . Finally, the EU provides funding to support cancer care and screening, under Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, through the EU4Health Programme. The Joint Action EUCanScreen 5 , with EUR 31 million, also serves to support the implementation of the 2022 Council Recommendation on cancer screening 67 . 1 Article 168(7) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU. 2 Financing measures to support digitalisation in health care, delivery of family and community-based care services and improving accessibility, effectiveness & resilience of health systems. 3 Horizontal initiatives, such as the Talent Booster Mechanism Working Group on Health also contribute by drafting recommendations to address talent challenges in the healthcare sector. 4 The completion of the RRP measures will be assessed by the Commission in the context of the upcoming payment requests, with the last one due by 31 August 2026. 5 https://health.ec.europa.eu/non-communicable-diseases/cancer/europes-beating-cancer-plan-eu4healthfinanced-projects/projects/eucanscreen_en. 6 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=uriserv:OJ.C_.2022.473.01.0001.01.ENG. 7 It includes a recommendation to ensure access to cancer screening services for people living in rural or remote areas.”
Public and private sectors role in healthcare services
- 2025-12-19 “E-004327/2025 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission 1. Under shared management, the selection of individual European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) 1 operations is the responsibility of the Managing Authority. The Commission’s role is to ensure that operations comply with the programme’s objectives and applicable regulations. The project, which has been in operation since 2009, fully met its objectives and remains economically viable to this date. 2. Since its creation, the project has attracted around 2 million visitors (between 100 000 and 140 000 annually) and generated some EUR 100 million in additional tourism revenues for the region. In addition, during the same period, several new accommodation and gastronomy establishments were opened, thereby contributing to job creation in the establishments themselves and among the services and good providers. The ERDF-funded project therefore successfully contributed to promoting tourism and economic development in the region. 3. Applicable rules require that ERDF-funded projects are selected based on clear selection criteria and have clear objectives contributing to the programme’s objectives, proportionate budgets and verifiable outputs and, where applicable, measurable results. Managing authorities perform administrative and on-the-spot checks while the Commission ensures programme monitoring and carries out audits. Where verifications reveal that activities are not implemented as approved, the Commission may request corrective measures, including financial corrections. 1 European Regional Development Fund https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/funding/erdf_en.”
Cohesion and rural funding · EU strategy for tourism development
- 2025-12-19 “E-004326/2025 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission 1. Under shared management, the selection of individual European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) 1 operations is the responsibility of the Managing Authority. The Commission’s role is to ensure that operations comply with the programme’s objectives and applicable regulations. According to available information, the project carried the communication and advisory activities foreseen and fully met its objectives. 2. The project aimed to inform towns and companies about alternative modes of transport as well as to support citizens in taking up electric mobility. The various activities (including advisory service, public events and dialogues) contributed to several initiatives, including the extension of the electric vehicle fleet and the implementation of the ‘Sonne Tanken’ project in Altenkirchen, the development of e-carsharing in Neuwied and the significant expansion of the charging infrastructure in Rhineland-Palatinate. 3. Applicable rules require that ERDF-funded projects are selected based on clear selection criteria and have clear objectives contributing to the programme’s objectives, proportionate budgets and verifiable outputs and, where applicable, measurable results. Managing authorities perform administrative and on-the-spot checks while the Commission ensures programme monitoring and carries out audits. Where verifications reveal that activities are not implemented as approved, the Commission may request corrective measures, including financial corrections. 1 European Regional Development Fund https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/funding/erdf_en.”
Cohesion and rural funding
- 2025-12-18 “E-004216/2025 Answer given by Mr Fitto on behalf of the European Commission 1. Recognising the challenges Cyprus faces due to its insularity and remoteness, an additional total amount of EUR 200 million have been allocated to Cyprus for the 2021–2027 programming period from Cohesion policy funding, as per Annex XXVI, paragraph 21 and 22 of Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 1 . Furthermore, the Commission will soon launch a call for evidence to prepare an EU-wide strategy covering islands and coastal communities. 2. Under the Thalia 2021–2027 Programme, Cohesion Policy provides EUR 969 million 2 , out of which EUR 147 million for research, innovation and digitalisation, EUR 357 million for the green transition, and EUR 97 million from the Just Transition Fund to speed up the energy transition and reinforce energy security. The programme also supports e-health actions to strengthen the national health system. Under the Connecting Europe Facility, the Commission also supports the Great Sea Interconnector, both politically and financially, with a EUR 657 million grant. In addition, to safeguard the connectivity of isolated regions and islands, Member States may impose Public Service Obligations (PSOs) 3 on air routes, when the market alone fails to provide adequate air services 4 . Cyprus has imposed such a PSO on the Larnaca-Brussels air route from 1 December 2025 5 . Under State aid rules, the Commission has approved targeted measures to support Cyprus’ connectivity, such as a route development scheme for airlines in 2022 67 . Finally, the Commission’s Guidelines on State aid to airports and airlines 8 allow targeted support for airports in isolated areas facing structural disadvantages. 1 Regulation (EU) 2021/1060, OJ L 231, 30.6.2021, p. 547–548. 2 EU contribution. 3 Setting fixed standards of continuity, regularity, pricing or minimum capacity. 4 Regulation (EC) No 1008/2008, OJ L 293, 31.10.2008, p. 3–20. 5 See information notice (C/2025/1995) published in the EU Official Journal on 28 March 2025. 6 See State aid case SA.101311 of 18 February 2022 (https://ec.europa.eu/competition/state_aid/cases1/202211/SA_101311_60D6637F-0000-C98B-8E815CFC2B20A612_33_1.pdf). 7 Established under Article 107(3)(c) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. 8 Communication from the Commission - Guidelines on State aid to airports and airlines, OJ C 99, 4.4.2014, pp. 3–34.”
Funding for OCTs and outermost regions
- 2025-12-10 “E-003914/2025 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission Focusing on the specific needs of border regions is a requirement for the National and Regional Partnership Plans as set out in Article 22(2(f)(iii) of the Commission proposal 1 . This is complemented with Article 4 of the proposal for a regulation establishing the European Regional Development Fund and the Cohesion Fund 2 , which considers regions bordering Russia, Belarus as well as Ukraine as disadvantaged areas. The governance model for the National and Regional Partnership Plan can be built on the existing implementation structures. The Commission’s proposal 3 enables to have regional chapters under the National and Regional Partnership Plans, similarly to the current cohesion policy programmes. As set out in Article 6 of the proposal, the Plans must be prepared and implemented in partnership with regional, local, urban, rural and other public authorities in accordance with the multi-level governance principle and a bottom-up approach. All authorities implemenging the plan will also remain in direct contact with the Commission (Article 49(1)). In assessing the submitted Plans, the Commission must ensure that all requirements of the Plan have been complied with and adequately reflected, including via appropriate funding to these regions. Furthermore, the Commission is working on a Communication on the Eastern Border Regions. to further enhance the efforts the Commission is already making to help these regions. 1 COM(2025)0565. 2 COM(2025)0552. 3 COM(2025)0565.”
Cohesion and rural funding
- 2025-12-04 “P-003947/2025 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission 1. Member States can identify authorities to be set up to manage the Plans, according to their own legal, institutional and administrative framework. The Commission’s proposal 1 allows for the German Länder to have their own regional chapters within the National and Regional Partnership Plan. 2. The governance model for the National and Regional Partnership Plans can be built on the existing implementation structure by adapting it to the coordinating and managing requirements set out in Articles 50 and 51 of the proposal. The Commission recently proposed adjustments to clarify that the coordinating function should not necessarily be performed by a new authority (coordinating authority) and that this responsibility could be taken over by an existing managing authority. 3. The proposal allows Member States to decide on the specific institutional arrangements for setting up the coordinating function. This decision will depend on their administrative structure, provided that the requirements of Article 50 of the proposal are met. 1 COM(2025)0565.”
Conditions to access EU budget · Cohesion and rural funding
- 2025-12-03 “E-004074/2025 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission The Commission is assessing the implementation of the Italian national recovery and resilience plan (NRRP) in accordance with the requirements outlined in the Annex to the Council Implementing Decision (CID Annex) 1 . Target M2C4-20bis of the investment on the Protection and enhancement of urban and peri-urban forests, will be assessed following the final payment request by Italy. To assess the satisfactory fulfilment of this target, the Commission will take into account the aforementioned requirements set out in the CID Annex, on the basis of evidence submitted by Italy. Should the Commission assess that any milestone or target of a given payment request is not satisfactorily met, it can take action to make a partial payment or suspend amounts related to non-fulfilled milestones or targets, in line with Article 24 of Regulation (EU) 2021/241 2 . Member States remain primarily responsible for the implementation of their Recovery and Resilience Plans as approved in the CID Annex, as well as for verifying that the financing provided has been properly used in accordance with all applicable rules. 1 https://commission.europa.eu/document/download/5def5446-08e6-4cc0-8c02c7d5a8bc9b5c_en?filename=COM_2025_675_1_EN_annexe_proposition_cp_part1_v3%20%282%29.pdf. 2 Regulation (EU) 2021/241, OJ L 57, 18.2.2021, art. 24: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legalcontent/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=OJ:L:2021:057:FULL.”
EU policy on sustainability criteria in public funding · Nature protection and restoration in the EU
- 2025-12-01 “E-004000/2025 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission 1. The EU remains fully committed to a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus issue within the United Nations framework, in accordance with the relevant United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolutions and in line with the principles on which the EU is founded and its acquis. The EU has expressed, most recently in the European Council Conclusions of April 2024, its readiness to play an active role in supporting all stages of the United Nations-led process, with all the appropriate means at its disposal. To this end, the Commission appointed Johannes Hahn as Special Envoy on Cyprus on 14 May 2025 1 . 2. Pursuant to Protocol 10 of the 2003 Act of Accession 2 , the acquis in the areas of the Republic of Cyprus in which the Republic of Cyprus Government does not exercise effective control is suspended. The suspension may be lifted only upon the conclusion of a settlement. 3. Türkiye, as an EU candidate country and long-standing member of the Council of Europe, is expected to adhere to its respective commitments 3 . In its 2025 report on Türkiye 4 , the Commission emphasised that Türkiye is expected to actively support the negotiations on a fair, comprehensive and viable settlement of the Cyprus issue within the United Nations framework, in accordance with the relevant UNSC Resolutions and in line with the principles on which the EU is founded and the EU acquis. 1 https://cyprus.representation.ec.europa.eu/news/european-commission-designates-special-envoy-cyprus-202505-14_en?prefLang=hr. 2 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/treaty/acc_2003/act_1/pro_10/sign/eng. 3 https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-5638-2025-INIT/en/pdf. 4 .https://enlargement.ec.europa.eu/document/download/8010c4db-6ef8-4c85-aa06814408921c89_en?filename=T%C3%BCrkiye%20Report%202024.pdf.”
EU-Turkey relations · EU competences on foreign affairs
- 2025-12-01 “E-004091/2025 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission The Commission analyses every payment request against the requirements set out in Regulation (EU) 2021/241 1 establishing the Recovery and Resilience Facility. Moreover, this Regulation establishes that Member States shall ensure that the use of funds complies with the applicable EU and national law. The measure in question falls under component 14, milestones 220 and 221 of the Spanish Recovery and Resilience Plan 2 , tentatively to be submitted under the 7 th and 9 th payment requests, which have not yet been assessed. The measure includes specific conditions to ensure the respect of the ‘Do No Significant Harm’ principle. Disbursements under the Recovery and Resilience Facility are tied to the satisfactory fulfilment of these conditions. 1 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32021R0241. 2 https://commission.europa.eu/document/download/846973bb-f1d5-4524-b03396976bf2971f_en?filename=COM_2025_556_1_EN_annexe_proposition_cp_part1_v3.pdf.”
Cohesion and rural funding · Climate efforts
- 2025-12-01 “E-004106/2025 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission Measure 16735 of the Greek Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) aims to improve physical access to cultural venues, including for older people and persons with disabilities. According to Decision 185395 of 19 December 2022 1 , the construction of the Monemvasia lift was integrated in the Greek RRP under measure 16735 to ensure access for persons with mobility constraints to the upper town of Monemvasia, to speed up access in case of an emergency, and to transfer materials for the preservation of monuments. The Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) Regulation (EU) 2021/241 2 provides that no measure included in a RRP should do significant harm to environmental objectives within the meaning of Article 17 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852 ‘do no significant harm’ (DNSH). Decision 185395 of 19 December 2022 sets out that the installation of the lift should be carried out with due regard to the landscape and environment, and that the project should comply with Regulation (EU) 2021/241 including the DNSH principle. The published call for tender also requires that the project should comply with EU and national environmental and other rules 3 . The siting of the project was approved, in accordance with archaeological legislation, by Decision 452351 of 23 September 2021 of the Minister of Culture following the unanimous opinion of the Central Archaeological Council. The RRF is a performance-based financing instrument. Therefore, the Commission releases funds to Member States only after it has assessed the satisfactory fulfilment of the agreed milestones and targets that are linked to the reforms and investments under the RRP. At present, payment requests related to this measure have not been submitted by Greece and thus have not yet been assessed by the Commission. 1 https://greece20.gov.gr/wp-content/uploads/575.-Anavatorio_Kastro_Monemvasias_5198124.pdf. 2 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32021R0241. 3 https://monemvasia.gov.gr/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/2024-04-08_diaxirisi_anavatorio_kastrou-diakiriksi.pdf.”
EU strategy for tourism development · Cohesion and rural funding
- 2025-11-28 “E-003779/2025 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission Under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), while the Commission assesses completion of the milestones and targets contained in the Council Implementing Decision of the Spanish Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) 1 , the Spanish authorities are responsible for the implementation of the Spanish RRP. More detailed data regarding the implementation of all RRPs can be found on the RRF’s scoreboard 2 . In the Communication of 4 June 2025 NextGenerationEU - The road to 2026 3 , the Commission recalled the 31 August 2026 deadline and called on all Member States to comprehensively review their RRPs as soon as possible to ensure all milestones and targets can be implemented by the deadline. In the Commission’s report on RRF implementation 4 , Spain was one of the Member States whose milestones and targets were between 85% and 50% fulfilled and was thus recommended to increase its implementation pace. Member States are encouraged to explore all available options to simplify their plans and safeguard their allocation without reducing their level of ambition. The Commission is in constant contact with the Spanish authorities to ensure a successful implementation of the RRP until August 2026 and accelerate the rhythm of implementation of all measures. 1 Council Implementing Decision on the approval of the assessment of the recovery and resilience plan for Spain, adopted by Council on 6 July 2021: https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-10150-2021INIT/en/pdf. 2 RRF Scoreboard: https://ec.europa.eu/economy_finance/recovery-and-resiliencescoreboard/disbursements.html?table=finalRecipientByCountry and Spain’s recovery and resilience plan: https://commission.europa.eu/business-economy-euro/economic-recovery/recovery-and-resiliencefacility/country-pages/spains-recovery-and-resilience-plan_en#documents. 3 COM(2025) 310 final. 4 COM(2025) 637 final.”
Conditions to access EU budget
- 2025-11-26 “E-003686/2025 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission Under the Common Agricultural Policy, (CAP), Cohesion Policy and the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), Member States have the flexibility to design forestry interventions based on their national and regional needs. Cohesion Policy can finance forest fire risk prevention and preparedness measures, for which EUR 2.2 billion 1 are allocated in the 2021-2027 period. The CAP also gives support for prevention and restoration of forest damages, including fires, with allocation of EUR 2.9 billion 2 for the period 2014-2022 and minimum planned allocation of EUR 925 million 3 for 2023-2027. Under these instruments, and in line with the programmes agreed with the Commission, managing authorities oversee selecting the specific projects addressing, in this case, fire prevention. In the RRF, Member States have allocated an estimated amount of around EUR 14.5 billion to investments in climate change adaptation and risk preparedness, including for wildfire prevention. The Commission is following up to the European Court of Auditors report on EU funding to tackle forest fires 4 . On recommendation 1 of the report, the Commission will promote good practices to target projects with the greatest potential impact. In line with recommendation 2, it will identify sources of information if available to support the assessment of effectiveness of projects. Moreover, the European Forest Fire Information System provides wildfire risk information with an approach contributing to a structural wildfire risk assessment for Europe, which can serve as the basis for the allocation of funds. Lastly, research at EU and national level strengthens the evidence base for risk assessment, prevention and restoration, informing the design and updating of these measures. 5 1 EU funds. 2 Total public expenditure. 3 Total public expenditure. 4 European Court of Auditors Special report 16/2025: EU funding to tackle forest fires – More preventive measures, but insufficient evidence of results and their long-term sustainability https://www.eca.europa.eu/en/publications/SR-2025-16. 5 See EU-funded projects such as, but not exclusively SILVANUS https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101037247, FirEUrisk https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101003890, TREEADS https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101036926 or ForestFireAI https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101206950.”
Agricultural funding · EU policy on infrastructure for preventing climate-related disasters (floods, droughts, extreme weather etc.)
- 2025-11-25 “E-003415/2025 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission The term ‘legal texts’ is used in Article 2 of the Aid Regulation 1 , which sets out the objectives of the aid programme for the Turkish Cypriot community. These objectives include ‘preparation of legal texts aligned with the acquis communautaire for the purpose of these being immediately applicable upon the entry into force of a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem’. The Commission, while reaffirming the EU’s non-recognition of the socalled ‘Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’, is bound by adopted legislation. As regards the second question, the Commission shares the Honourable Member’s goal to protect environmental as well as health and safety standards and does not consider the revision of Council Regulation (EC) No 866/2004 2 the appropriate means to achieve that goal. In addition, according to the information available, trade in aggregates across the Green Line does not currently take place. Concerning the rights of natural and legal persons including property rights, Article 7 of the Aid Regulation requires the Commission to ensure, when implementing the Regulation, that the rights of natural or legal persons, including the rights to possessions and property, are respected. The Commission systematically consults the authorities of the Republic of Cyprus to avoid infringing property rights in its actions, including actions that support trade across the Green Line. Beyond the scope of the Aid Regulation, the Commission has no competence to ensure that property transactions in the areas in which the Government of the Republic of Cyprus does not exercise effective control respect the rights of the owners concerned, due to the suspension of the acquis in those areas. 1 Council Regulation (EC) No 389/2006, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legalcontent/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32006R0389. 2 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2004/866/oj/eng.”
EU-Turkey relations
- 2025-11-25 “E-003911/2025 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission During the last wildfire season (June-October 2025), Greece activated the Copernicus Emergency Management Service (CEMS) 1 – rapid mapping component 16 times to support response operations. To date, the CEMS – risk and recovery component has not been used to assess the impact of drought on forest ecosystems. However, the drought component of CEMS provides, without the need of any activation, near real-time data on drought impacts on vegetation. Moreover, Greece is also part of the EU Working Group on water scarcity and drought together with the responsible of CEMS Drought. Under the Rural Development Programme 2014-2022, a total of EUR 81 million is available for forestry-related measures, of which EUR 69 million has already been disbursed. Similar interventions are also planned under the Common Agricultural Policy Strategic Plan 20232027 2 . Under Horizon Europe, a European co-funded partnership on Forests and Forestry for a Sustainable Future has been proposed, but Greece has not yet expressed interest in joining. Cohesion policy allocates EUR 1.4 billion in 2021-2027 3 (including national co-financing) through national and regional programmes to support prevention, risk and disaster management measures across Greece including forest related actions. To date, projects totalling EUR 1.3 billion have been selected for co-financing. Through its Joint Research Centre, the Commission also provides software to facilitate forest die-off monitoring with Copernicus satellite data in near-real-time 4 . 1 https://emergency.copernicus.eu/. 2 https://www.agrotikianaptixi.gr/. 3 https://cohesiondata.ec.europa.eu/. 4 https://forest.jrc.ec.europa.eu/en/activities/forest-disturbances/#div2.”
Management of EU forests · EU policy on infrastructure for preventing climate-related disasters (floods, droughts, extreme weather etc.)
- 2025-11-24 “E-003910/2025 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission The Commission has not been made aware by the Greek authorities of the planned project in question. In the context of the 3 rd Community Support Framework 2000-2006, the Regional Operational Programme for Peloponnese funded two projects for the upgrading of the rail lines Korinthos – Andritsa and Argos – Nafplio, and of the rail lines Andritsa – Kalamata, Zevgolatio – Kalonero and Lefktro – Megalopolis with the European Regional Development Fund contribution. In the context of the 1 st Economic Adjustment Programme for Greece, the Greek parliament passed the act restructuring the Hellenic Railways Organisation in March 2011. As part of the restructuring, the country implemented the closure of loss-making train routes, including those of the Peloponnese rail network. However, it should be noted that the sections Korinthos – Andritsa, Andritsa – Kalamata and Zevgolatio – Kalonero are part of the comprehensive trans-European transport network policy (TEN-T) passenger and freight rail network as defined in the Regulation 2024/1679. Therefore, measures promoting the efficient and sustainable use of all existing and planned TEN-T transport infrastructures should be implemented by the Member States, in line with the milestones foreseen by the above-mentioned Regulation, which for the comprehensive TEN-T extend to 2050. Union funding can support eligible actions that contribute to TEN-T objectives, notably through the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) for studies and works. Greece may also combine support from other EU instruments (e.g., cohesion policy funds), observing all programme-specific rules, state-aid provisions, and co-financing rates. Double funding remains prohibited.”
EU support of rail transport · EU funding for transportation
- 2025-11-21 “E-003688/2025 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission The Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) and the cohesion policy control frameworks include mechanisms to protect the EU’s financial interests, notably through the prevention, detection, and correction of fraud, corruption, and conflicts of interest. Member States bear the primary responsibility for safeguarding EU financial interests and ensuring compliance with both EU and national applicable law. The Commission carries out assessments of the adequacy of the management and control systems both under RRF and cohesion policy and, where necessary, proposes measures to address shortcomings. Under RRF for example in cases of fraud, corruption, or conflict of interest, the Commission may proportionally reduce the support granted and recover any amounts due to the EU budget. Under Cohesion policy, the Commission may interrupt or suspend payments and apply financial corrections when serious deficiencies are identified and the Member States failed to take action in first instance. The Commission identified some issues on the protection of whistle-blowers through its audits in Romania. These issues are being closely followed up. To ensure transparency and traceability of recipients of EU funds, Member States should collect data on final recipients of EU funds including for their beneficial owners in the case of Cohesion. Romania published data on the 100 final recipients receiving the highest amount of funding from the RRF and Kohesio database presents data on all Cohesion beneficiaries. The Commission cooperates closely with the European Anti-Fraud Office and the European Public Prosecutor Office. This further strengthens the EU’s capacity to effectively oversee RRF and cohesion policy expenditure.”
Rule of law and democracy in the EU (political compass) · Accounting and auditing of EU budget
- 2025-11-20 “E-003812/2025 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission The Commission fully recognises the permanent structural constraints of the outermost regions, as enshrined in Article 349 of the Treaty, and remains committed to addressing them under the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). Today, support to these regions is scattered across several EU funds. The proposal for the next MFF requires France, Spain and Portugal to include dedicated measures for their outermost regions in their National and Regional Partnership Plans, with the option of a specific chapter for each region. The new approach promotes an integrated use of resources for investments, reforms and compensation schemes, and extends the eligibility of operating costs to all measures. It maintains lower co-financing rates and higher levels of technical assistance for their territorial cooperation under the Interreg Plan 1 . It also mandates specific supply arrangements for essential products and a requirement to support local agricultural, fisheries and aquaculture products. Measures will cover areas such as food security, housing, transport and digital connectivity, energy, water, waste management, energy, education and skills, migration, climate change, environmental protection, healthcare, economic development and the blue economy. While the name ‘POSEI’ 2 will no longer be used, its core tools (supply arrangements and local production support) will continue. By combining investments and reforms within one plan, the new framework seeks a coordinated, coherent, and differentiated approach, which allows Member States in partnership with regional authorities to tailor support to the specific needs of their regions. 1 EU funding programmes that support cooperation. 2 programmes of options specifically relating to remoteness and insularity.”
Funding for OCTs and outermost regions
- 2025-11-19 “E-003777/2025 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission The Council Implementing Decision on the Spanish recovery and resilience plan (RRP) was adopted in July 2021. Pursuant to Article 18(4)(i) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241 establishing the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) 1 , all milestones and targets (M/Ts) included in the Spanish RRP must be fully implemented by 31 August 2026 at the latest. The more detailed timing provided in the RRP reflects the foreseen sequencing of every measure but remains indicative. In accordance with Article 24(2) of the RRF Regulation, Member States may submit no more than two payment requests per calendar year. This requires a distribution of milestones and targets over time to ensure their timely verification and inclusion in the relevant payment requests. The payment request of a Member State may cover several instalments. Member States may ask to revise their RRPs, if needed, due to objective circumstances, as envisaged by Article 21(1) of the RRF Regulation. The plan was revised in October 2023 to add a loan envelope and a chapter on REPowerEU 2 . Subsequent targeted amendments to the RRP have taken place in 2024 and 2025 and are published on a dedicated website 3 . In view of the strict implementation deadlines for the RRF, the Commission has asked Member States to engage in a comprehensive revision of their plans and published a Communication to this effect in June 2025 4 . Commission services are in constant contact with the Spanish authorities to assist them to that end. 1 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/241/oj/eng. 2 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/435/oj/eng. 3 https://commission.europa.eu/business-economy-euro/economic-recovery/recovery-and-resiliencefacility/country-pages/spains-recovery-and-resilience-plan_en#documents. 4 NextGenerationEU – The road to 2026, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legalcontent/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:52025DC0310.”
Conditions to access EU budget · EU fiscal rules and oversight of national budgets
- 2025-11-18 “E-003776/2025 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission The Council Implementing Decision on the Spanish Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) was adopted in July 2021. The plan was revised in October 2023 to add a loan envelope and to add a chapter on REPowerEU 1 . Subsequent targeted amendments to the Spanish plan have taken place in 2024 and 2025. All Member States may ask to revise their RRPs, if needed, due to objective circumstances that affect the implementation of the original plan, as envisaged by article 21 of the Regulation establishing the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). All information on the amendments to the Spanish RRP is published on a dedicated website 2 . In view of the 2026 strict implementation deadlines for the Recovery and Resilience Facility, the Commission has asked Member States to engage in a comprehensive revision of their plans and published a Communication to this effect (NextGenerationEU - The road to 2026) 3 . As stated in the Communication, these revisions should aim at streamlining the plans and preparing the final payment requests. Member States are also encouraged to explore all available options to safeguard their allocation of both grants and loans. Members States can decide to scale down the loan envelope in their plans. The Commission services are in constant contact with the Spanish authorities to ensure a successful implementation of the RRP measures until 31 August 2026. 1 Regulation (EU) 2023/435 amending Regulation (EU) 2021/241: https://eurlex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/435/oj/eng. 2 Spain’s recovery and resilience plan: https://commission.europa.eu/business-economy-euro/economicrecovery/recovery-and-resilience-facility/country-pages/spains-recovery-and-resilience-plan_en#documents. 3 NextGenerationEU - The road to 2026, COM/2025/310 final: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legalcontent/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:52025DC0310.”
Conditions to access EU budget
- 2025-11-18 “E-003773/2025 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission The Council Implementing Decision on the Spanish recovery and resilience plan (RRP) was adopted in July 2021 1 . The plan was revised in October 2023 to add a loan envelope and a chapter on REPowerEU 2 . Subsequent targeted amendments to the Spanish plan have taken place in 2024 and 2025 3 . All Member States may ask to revise their RRPs, if needed, due to objective circumstances that affect the implementation of the original plan. All information on the amendments to the Spanish RRP is published on a dedicated website 4 . In view of the 2026 implementation deadlines for the recovery and resilience facility, the Commission has asked Member States to engage in a comprehensive revision of their plans and published a Communication to this effect 5 . As stated in the Communication, these revisions should aim at streamlining the plans and preparing the final payment requests. Member States are also encouraged to explore all available options to safeguard their allocation. The Commission services are in constant contact with the Spanish authorities to ensure a successful implementation of the RRP measures until 31 August 2026. 1 Council Implementing Decision on the approval of the assessment of the recovery and resilience plan for Spain, adopted by the Council on 6 July 2021: https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-10150-2021INIT/en/pdf. 2 Regulation (EU) 2023/435 amending Regulation (EU) 2021/241as regards REPowerEU chapters in recovery and resilience plans and amending Regulations (EU) No 1303/2013, (EU) 2021/1060 and (EU) 2021/1755, and Directive 2003/87/EC. 3 COM(2025) 556 final. 4 Spain’s recovery and resilience plan: https://commission.europa.eu/business-economy-euro/economicrecovery/recovery-and-resilience-facility/country-pages/spains-recovery-and-resilience-plan_en#documents. 5 Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council NextGenerationEU - The road to 2026 COM(2025) 310 final: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:52025DC0310.”
Conditions to access EU budget
- 2025-11-13 “P-004151/2025 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission Regional Emergency Support to Reconstruction (RESTORE 1 ) allows Member States affected by climate-related disasters to repair damaged infrastructure and equipment, provide food and basic material assistance, and temporarily support healthcare measures and short-time work schemes. To enable a swift response, up to 10% of the European Regional Development Fund 2 and the European Social Fund Plus 3 for the 2021–2027 programming period can be redirected to deliver on these objectives. A pre-financing rate of 25% helps Member States accelerate support to those affected. Member States can also benefit from a 95% co-financing rate for measures that help them recover from climate-related disasters. 19 cohesion policy programmes from five Member States have reallocated EUR 1.8 billion of cohesion policy funds to RESTORE 4 , resulting in EUR 455.9 million pre-financing. A further EUR 120 million in programme allocations to RESTORE is in the pipeline 5 and expected to be adopted in the coming months. To date, support under RESTORE includes water and transport infrastructure, flood and land management, energy efficiency in public buildings, as well as healthcare, education and social inclusion facilities. This variety reflects how RESTORE addresses both urgent recovery needs and longer-term resilience following natural disasters. 1 Regulation (EU) 2024/3236 amending Regulations (EU) 2021/1057 and (EU) 2021/1058 as regards Regional Emergency Support to Reconstruction (RESTORE). 2 Regulation (EU) 2021/1058 on the European Regional Development Fund and on the Cohesion Fund. 3 Regulation (EU) 2021/1057 establishing the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+). 4 ES EUR 829 million, FR EUR 320 million, IT EUR 35 million, PL EUR 605 million, RO EUR 34 million. 5 ES EUR 27 million, PT EUR 92 million.”
Cohesion and rural funding
- 2025-11-11 “E-003732/2025 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission The Commission will launch a consultation to prepare an EU-wide strategy covering islands and coastal communities by early 2026. The strategy, foreseen in the 2026 Commission Work Programme, will set out a framework to better address the needs of EU islands, taking into account their specific characteristics. The exact scope will be clarified following the consultation.”
Cohesion and rural funding
- 2025-11-06 “E-003766/2025 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission In line with the principle of shared management, Member States put in place a management and control system for the Cohesion Policy programmes, ensuring that they operate in line with the principles of sound financial management and in respect of all regulatory requirements. System audits, operational audits and audits of accounts are conducted by the competent national authorities to provide assurance to the Commission concerning the effective functioning of the management system and the legality and regularity of expenditures reported for projects co-financed under Cohesion Policy programmes. In case of irregularities identified during these audits, the primary responsibility for recovery lays with the Member State concerned. Should the Commission identify irregular, deficient or non-compliant expenditures in the accounts submitted by a Member State, it may take the necessary decisions to correct any irregular or illegal expenditure related to projects co-financed under Cohesion Policy programmes. Furthermore, investigations on mismanagement of funds that might result in cases of fraud, corruption, and serious misconduct affecting EU financial interests can be carried out independently by the public prosecution office of the EU (EPPO). The EPPO works with national authorities and the Commission, specifically the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), to ensure coherent action. Information sharing agreements are in place between the EPPO, the Commission and OLAF to facilitate both judicial action and administrative follow-up.”
Environmental crimes and justice · EU policy on sustainability criteria in public funding · Water pollution