The European Commission validates Poland's fourth payment request of 7.2 billion euros under NextGenerationEU

The European Commission has positively evaluated Poland's fourth payment request under the Recovery and Resilience Mechanism, paving the way for 7.2 billion euros linked to reforms and investments in health, digitalization, cybersecurity, hydrogen, and clean transport. The European executive states that Warsaw has met 30 milestones and 13 targets, and with this tranche, the total amount paid to Poland would reach 34.15 billion euros.

The European Commission has positively evaluated Poland's fourth payment request, amounting to 7.2 billion euros, under the Recovery and Resilience Mechanism, after concluding that the member state has met 30 milestones and 13 targets set out in the Council's implementation decision.

In brief

Poland's fourth payment request is valued at 7.2 billion euros.

The Commission states that Poland has met 30 milestones and 13 targets.

The included measures target health, the digitalization of administrative processes, cybersecurity, broadband infrastructure, tax and labor reform, and green initiatives, including hydrogen and railway modernization.

Among the flagship measures are over 500 million euros in subsidies for hydrogen, the introduction of over 1,000 electric or hydrogen buses and trolleybuses, and the expansion of high-speed internet access.

With this positive evaluation, the funds paid to Poland through the RRF would reach 34.15 billion euros, which is 62.4% of the national plan, and 61% of all milestones and targets of the plan are now met.

According to the Commission, the reforms and investments related to this payment request are expected to have effects in several key areas for citizens and companies in Poland. The European executive lists improvements in health services, the digitalization of administrative processes, strengthening cybersecurity, expanding broadband infrastructure, reforming tax and labor legislation, and advancing green initiatives, including infrastructure for hydrogen, modernizing railways, and greater access to sustainable transport.

The Commission places special emphasis on several measures considered emblematic for this request. One of them is unlocking investments in hydrogen, by allocating over 500 million euros in subsidies aimed at stimulating the growth of the private sector in the production of renewable hydrogen and low-carbon emissions. Another measure targets the introduction of over 1,000 electric or hydrogen buses and trolleybuses as part of the transition to cleaner public transport.

This payment request also includes the expansion of high-speed internet access in underserved areas, where private investments are limited, as well as accelerating the restructuring processes of hospitals and increasing the share of outpatient care services compared to hospitalizations. The Commission also mentions the establishment of a National Cardiology Network, which will classify hospitals based on the level of care, establish standardized diagnostic and treatment protocols, and introduce a quality monitoring system for cardiology services.

The European executive also indicates that the payment is linked to strengthening the powers of the Labor Inspection, to better detect violations of labor legislation and ensure compliance with standards. Overall, the Commission presents this tranche as being associated with both green and digital investments, as well as with administrative and social reforms.

From a procedural standpoint, the Commission's positive evaluation does not mean an immediate payment of funds. The Commission has sent the preliminary assessment to the Economic and Financial Committee of the Council, which has four weeks to issue its opinion. Payment to Poland can only occur after the opinion of this committee and after a payment decision is adopted by the Commission.

Poland submitted this payment request on December 23, 2025. Its recovery and resilience plan covers a broad portfolio of reforms and investments that support the climate and digital transition and is financed with 54.71 billion euros, of which 25.27 billion euros in grants and 29.44 billion euros in loans.

With the positive evaluation announced on Thursday, the funds paid to Poland under the RRF would rise to 34.15 billion euros, corresponding to 62.4% of the total value of the national plan. The Commission also specifies that 61% of all milestones and targets included in the plan have been met.

The broader context is that the Recovery and Resilience Mechanism is entering its final stage of implementation. The Commission reminds that, considering the closure of the Facility at the end of 2026, member states must complete all outstanding milestones and targets by August 2026 and submit the last payment requests by the end of September. From this perspective, positive evaluations become increasingly important for both the absorption of funds and the final execution pace of national plans.

https://2eu.brussels/ro/stiri/comisia-europeana-valideaza-a-patra-cerere-de-plata-a-poloniei-de-72-miliarde-de-euro-in-cadrul-nextgenerationeu