MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the European Parliament’s scrutiny of the ongoing assessment by the Commission and the Council of the national recovery and resilience plans

B9‑0335/2021

European Parliament resolution on the European Parliament’s scrutiny of the ongoing assessment by the Commission and the Council of the national recovery and resilience plans

(2021/2738(RSP))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to Regulation (EU) 2021/241 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 February 2021 establishing the Recovery and Resilience Facility (the RRF Regulation)[1],

– having regard to Rule 132(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas the RRF Regulation was adopted under the ordinary legislative procedure;

B. whereas the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) is an unprecedented instrument in terms of volume and means of financing; whereas the Commission is preparing to issue debt, since all EU Member States have now successfully ratified the Own Resources Decision[2];

C. whereas Article 26 of the RRF Regulation establishes a recovery and resilience dialogue in order to ensure greater transparency and accountability and for the Commission to provide Parliament with information;

D. whereas Parliament may express its views on the issues under the recovery and resilience dialogue, including through exchanges with the Commission;

E. whereas as a rule, the Member States should have submitted their national recovery and resilience plans to the Commission by 30 April 2021; whereas to date, 23 Member States have submitted their recovery and resilience plans to the Commission;

1. Considers that the RRF constitutes a historic EU instrument to help Member States mitigate the economic and social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, set their economies on strong and sustainable growth trajectories, prepare the EU to address long-term challenges to foster economic, social and territorial cohesion and convergence, and generate EU added value;

2. Requests that the Commission provide in-depth and comprehensive assessments, while welcoming its efforts to ensure the swift adoption of the relevant Council implementing decisions linked to the national recovery and resilience plans before the summer, and its continuous engagement with Member States to help them deliver high-quality plans;

3. Believes that while exercising its scrutiny powers, Parliament should refrain from interfering, mainly owing to the specific nature of the RRF, as financed by extraordinary funds outside the EU budget, borrowed with the approval of individual Member States;

4. Is convinced that the funds must be fairly distributed across societies to ensure the highest possible impact on social upward and territorial convergence;

5. Welcomes in particular the measures in the recovery and resilience plans submitted to support smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, enhance the creation of high-quality employment, fight poverty, promote culture and education, develop competences and skills, support children and youth, increase crisis preparedness and crisis response capacity, and mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 crisis on the economy;

6. Reminds the Commission that investments should be accompanied by reforms and urges it to ensure that all approved retroactive investments are clearly accompanied by corresponding milestones and targets; notes that the lack of truly additional projects financed by the RRF could limit its macroeconomic impact;

7. Calls on the Commission to ensure full transparency with regard to the timeline for the approval of the delegated acts subsequent to the RRF Regulation and to take into account the relevant elements of the recovery and resilience dialogue for their swift approval;

8. Invites the Commission to continue following an open, transparent and constructive approach during the recovery and resilience dialogues;

9. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the European Council and the Commission.