EU approves ninth NRRP tranche for Italy. Meloni: “We have moved to a culture of reform”

Brussels – Italy has done things properly, and the European Commission approved the release of the ninth tranche of loans totalling 12.8 billion euros to finance the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP). “The related reforms and investments support significant changes for citizens and businesses: a more efficient public administration, a faster justice system, and the strengthening of the education system,” said Executive Vice-President for Cohesion and Reforms, Raffaele Fitto, on his Facebook profile, who highlights the work carried out by the government and the results achieved. “With this tranche, the total funds disbursed to Italy reach approximately €166 billion, equal to 85% of the total resources allocated under the Plan,” namely €191.5 billion comprising grants (€68.9 billion) and loans (€122.6 billion). 

The European Commission is recognising efforts in the field of employment through a programme that has enabled at least 3 million people to benefit from Active Labour Market Policies and over 600,000 participants to successfully take part in training courses, particularly in the development of digital skills. Another achievement cited as a success is the reduction in early school leaving, with over 800,000 students receiving support through targeted tutoring and vocational retraining programmes.

Brussels also welcomes the improvements in the area of judicial reform: it highlights that administrative courts of first instance have reduced the number of pending cases by over 80 per cent between July 2023 and December 2025, “improving the efficiency of the judicial system.” 

Italy is therefore continuing along the path it embarked on in 2021, the year in which disbursements of EU funds began. Of the 139.9 billion euros received so far, 24.9 billion euros were received in 2021 (pre-financing), 42 billion euros in 2022 (two instalments of 21 billion each, on 13 April and 8 November), and 35 billion euros in 2023 (an instalment of 18.5 billion euros on 9 October and an instalment of 16.5 billion euros on 28 December). A total of 19.7 billion euros was disbursed in 2024 (two separate instalments: the first of 11 billion on 5 August and the second of 8.7 billion on 23 December). On 1 December, Brussels approved a 12.8 billion euro tranche, paid on 30 December. Four months later, the green light was given for the ninth tranche. 

“The Italian model of the NRRP has marked the shift from a spending-driven approach to a culture of reforms and structural investments,” Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said, celebrating. With the approval of the ninth instalment, she adds, “Italy consolidates its leading position in Europe in the implementation of the NRRP in terms of funds received and results achieved.” 

The Minister for European Affairs, the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) and Cohesion Policy, Tommaso Foti, also expressed his satisfaction: “With the approval of the penultimate tranche, 73 per cent of the targets set out in the Plan have been achieved, a figure that is well above the European average.”