The Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) – launched by the European Union in response to the COVID-19 pandemic – is set to expire in August 2026. However, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) recently passed a resolution proposing an 18-month extension for key projects nearing completion. This is particularly important for Poland, which faced a three-year delay in accessing funds from its National Recovery Plan (KPO) due to disputes between the previous government and the European Commission. The resolution also stresses the need for greater transparency in the allocation and use of funds.
“The Recovery and Resilience Facility is a new instrument introduced immediately after the COVID-19 outbreak. Unlike other EU funds, it supports investment while encouraging reforms aimed at strengthening economies, modernizing education and healthcare, and improving overall resilience,” said Siegfried Mureşan, Romanian MEP and co-rapporteur on the RRF. “Implementation has been delayed across all Member States, though to varying degrees.”
Parliament Pushes for Deadline Extension
The resolution, adopted in June 2025 by a majority of 421 MEPs, calls for extending the RRF deadline for investments that will be well advanced by August 31, 2026 and approved by the European Commission. According to Mureşan, only Italy has received six disbursements from the Commission so far, followed by three countries with five disbursements, several with four, nine with three, and six with two, one, or none.
“The proposed 18-month extension would benefit all Member States,” Mureşan noted.
MEPs warned that a tight timeline could put large-scale projects and critical reforms at risk. A joint report from the Budgetary and Economic and Monetary Affairs Committees revealed that, as of June 3, 2025, the EU had disbursed €316 billion (49% of the RRF envelope). Around 31% of milestones and targets were completed, while another 22% were reported as completed by national governments.
Poland’s Delayed Access to Funds
Due to conflicts over rule-of-law issues, Poland’s access to RRF funds was frozen for nearly three years under its previous government. Mureşan argued that it would be only fair to extend the RRF timeline by 18 months to allow the new pro-European government sufficient time to access and utilize the full funding available.
According to Poland’s Ministry of Funds and Regional Policy, as of June 24, almost 750,000 contracts have been signed with beneficiaries, amounting to approximately PLN 121.5 billion (just over 46% of the total KPO allocation). This includes over PLN 67 billion in grants (60.1% of the allocation) and PLN 54.3 billion in loans (36.2%). The Council of the EU has approved a revised version of Poland’s recovery plan, including a PLN 25 billion Security and Defense Fund for civil protection infrastructure, defense industry expansion, dual-use infrastructure, and cybersecurity. Additional funding of PLN 26.3 billion is expected in September 2025, with two more payment requests to follow in the autumn.
RRF’s Strategic Role in Crisis Recovery
Launched in 2021 as part of Next Generation EU, the RRF is the bloc’s main investment tool to help Member States recover from the pandemic. Its €650 billion budget (in grants and loans) supports reforms and investments aligned with EU political priorities, particularly the green and digital transitions.
“The RRF was created in 2020, before Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. Since then, we have adapted it to include a dedicated energy pillar to reduce dependence on Russia, improve energy efficiency, and enhance interconnectivity,” Mureşan explained. “Projects supporting digital transformation, energy independence, and dual-use (civilian and military) infrastructure should now be prioritized.”
New Priorities and Stronger Oversight
MEPs are calling for a review of how unspent RRF funds can support new strategic priorities, including enhancing competitiveness, defense capabilities, and cross-border investments such as high-speed rail. The resolution also calls for stronger transparency and traceability to reduce the risk of double funding.
To achieve this, MEPs advocate for an integrated and interoperable digital system and data exploration tools across all Member States, alongside a public platform listing final beneficiaries. Parliament also seeks a greater oversight role to ensure accountability.
“The EU is spending more than ever from both its regular budget and the RRF. This requires stronger control and transparency,” said a member of the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee. “The European Court of Auditors, European Public Prosecutor’s Office, and OLAF must be strengthened. The Prosecutor’s Office, in particular, needs more staff and a higher budget to investigate irregularities and potential fraud.”
Demand for Public Disclosure
The resolution urges full publication of all entities receiving RRF funds, including contractors and subcontractors and their ultimate owners.
“Governments should publish the complete list of final beneficiaries. We want to know where the money is going. For example, if a highway is being built, it’s not enough to say the Transport Ministry is the beneficiary. We need the name of the company, subcontractors, and full transparency,” Mureşan emphasized.
Acceleration and Payment Reviews
Parliament urged both the Commission and Member States to speed up project implementation, cut red tape, and prioritize advanced investments. Concerns were also raised about the repayment of RRF-related debt (estimated at €25–30 billion annually from 2028) in light of the lack of agreement on new EU own resources. The full repayment is due by December 31, 2058.
