Today, the Commission has approved a positive preliminary assessment of Belgiums second payment request for €909 million under the Recovery and Resilience Facility, the core of NextGenerationEU.
After assessing the payment request submitted on July 25, 2024, the Commission has determined that Belgium has successfully completed the 38 milestones and 8 targets outlined in the Council Implementing Decision for the second tranche.
13 reforms and 34 investments will bring positive changes for citizens and businesses in areas like digitalization, connectivity, research, innovation, green transition, building energy renovation, green transport, education, inclusion, lifelong learning, environmental permitting, sustainable agri-food chains, circular economy, and spending reviews.
Key measures in this payment request include:
- Investment in rail infrastructure to support modal shift: This payment request addresses growing mobility challenges in Belgium and facilitates the shift towards sustainable transport modes. A key target is improving rail infrastructure, as part of a larger investment plan. Key actions include 27 interventions to remove bottlenecks on the Brussels-Luxemburg line and adding over 6000 bicycle parking spaces at train stations in Flanders. Additionally, works have been completed to make five train stations across the three Regions accessible for persons with disabilities and reduced mobility.
- Introduction of 5G through necessary spectrum auctions and radiation standard adaptations: Part of broader reforms to update the regulatory framework for high-speed connectivity. In 2021, Belgiums 5G coverage lagged significantly behind the EU average, with only 4% of households covered compared to the EU average of 66%. Thanks to the reform, Belgiums 5G coverage increased to 40% in 2023, as reported by the DESI dashboard.
Next steps
The Commission will share its preliminary assessment of Belgiums fulfillment of the required milestones and targets for this payment with the Economic and Financial Committee (EFC), which has four weeks to deliver its opinion. The payment to Belgium can occur after the EFCs opinion and the adoption of a payment decision by the Commission.
Background
Belgiums recovery and resilience plan includes a wide range of investment and reform measures. The plan will be financed by €5 billion in grants and €244 million in loans.
More information on Belgiums Recovery and Resilience plan can be found on this page, featuring an interactive map of projects financed by the RRF, as well as on the Recovery and Resilience Scoreboard. Further information on the payment request process under the RRF is available in this Q&A document.
For more information
Commissions preliminary assessment of Belgiums second payment request
Belgiums recovery and resilience plan
Recovery and Resilience Facility
Recovery and Resilience Facility project map
Recovery and Resilience Scoreboard