Belgium, (Brussels Morning Newspaper) The European Commission gave preliminary approval to Latvia’s aid plan worth 201 million euro under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF).
The body pointed out in a statement on Friday that Latvia submitted the request on 17 June and added that aid is to be provided in the form of grants.
It noted that Latvia implemented reforms to get access to the funds, including changes to the minimum income support system, a model for expanding the broadband network to rural areas, environmental measures and more.
The EC stressed that it thoroughly assessed Latvia’s progress before giving preliminary approval to the plan.
The body reminded that Latvia’s recovery and resilience plan worth 1.8 billion euro “includes a wide range of investment and reform measures in six thematic components.”
It reminded that access to funds is contingent on EU member states’ implementation of reforms from their recovery and resilience plans.
The body sent its preliminary approval to the Economic and Financial Committee, which is to give its opinion in four weeks.
The EC stressed that it will take the opinion into consideration before making the final decision on Latvia’s request.
EC officials commend Latvia
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen noted “once member states give their greenlight, Latvia will receive 201 million euro as a result of its good and swift progress in implementing the plan’s first set of reforms and investments.”
“Latvia, the Commission stands by your side on the way to recovery,” she concluded.
Valdis Dombrovskis, European Commissioner for Trade, congratulated Latvia for achieving the first milestones in its recovery and resilience plan.
“Latvia is pressing ahead with its agenda of reforms and investments, including the further development of its system for minimum income support, along with rules for improving the competition environment and reducing corruption risks in public procurement,” he noted.
Paolo Gentiloni, European Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs, stated “Latvia has adopted important measures including to facilitate remote learning and enable connected and automated driving, as well as to tighten the anti-money laundering framework and to support fair competition in public procurement.”
He concluded that EC’s preliminary approval is an important step in the implementation of Latvia’s plan.
