Italy could miss recovery and resilience plan deadline

Brussels (Brussels Morning) Italy could miss the 30 April deadline for submitting its national recovery and resilience plan as the European Commission is not happy with drafts presented thus far, according to two unnamed sources, Reuters reported on Sunday.

However, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi’s spokesman maintained that the plan would be presented on time, while a spokesman for the Ministry of Economy and Finance noted “our aim remains to present it on 30 April”.

EU member states have been preparing their respective national recovery and resilience plans which will define how they will spend their share of the EU’s recovery fund worth 750 billion euro.

Italy’s share stands at some 200 billion euro, more than any other EU member state, and is to be disbursed over six years.

Sources say EC not happy with Italy’s plan

“The Commission is unhappy with the recovery plan as it stands” according to one of the sources, who suggested that Draghi would present the plan in May, since more time could be needed to adjust the plan to meet the EC’s objections.

The source claimed that the EC is concerned about a lack of detail in the plan and the substance of the planned reform of the judiciary, among other issues.

Another source said the Commission wants Italy to change the plan, and since this would take additional time it was more likely to be presented mid-May.

An EC spokeswoman acknowledged that some countries could “need a few more weeks” to draw up their recovery and resilience plans, noting that “quality should be the first priority” and that the EC was in dialogue with all member states.

Earlier this month, Valdis Dombrovskis, Executive Vice President of the EC for an Economy that Works for People, pointed out that some EU member states would miss the 30 April deadline, but he did not specify which.

He indicated that the EC could make the first payments in July if all bloc members ratify the scheme by June.