Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, and Slovenia receive more than €1.86 billion under NextGenerationEU

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission.

The European Commission has disbursed today more than €1.86 billion to Belgium, Bulgaria, Slovenia and Denmark under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), the centrepiece of NextGenerationEU. 

These payments reflect the successful fulfilment of key milestones and targets linked to reforms and investments set out in the four Member States’ national recovery and resilience plans. They underscore the performance-based nature of the RRF, under which funds are disbursed only once agreed reform and investment commitments have been satisfactorily completed. 

Following the Council’s approval to proceed with these disbursements, the Commission adopted the corresponding payment decisions and released the funds today.  

Belgium 

The Commission disbursed €567 million to Belgium under its fourth RRF payment request following the satisfactory fulfilment of the relevant milestones and targets. 

The payment supports reforms and investments contributing to Belgium’s clean, digital and social transition. These include, among others: 

• measures to strengthen sustainable mobility and biodiversity, including the construction of ecoducts – also known as wildlife crossings or green bridges;
• reforms and investments to improve energy efficiency and support the clean transition with rules streamlining environmental assessment procedures and planning requirements for wind farms.
• actions to foster digitalisation, innovation and public sector modernisation, including the creation of a database on court proceedings, covering key data such as new, closed and pending cases as well as average lead times;
• initiatives reinforcing social inclusion, for example by ensuring an adequate minimum pension, and supporting jobseekers and workers through skills development such as training and testing.

Today’s disbursement follows Belgium’s fourth payment request, submitted on 19 December 2025 and greenlighted by the Commission on 2 July 2026.

This payment brings Belgium’s overall RRF disbursements to 69% of the country’s total €5.26 billion allocation. 

Bulgaria 

The Commission disbursed €896 million to Bulgaria under its fourth RRF payment request, following the fulfilment of a broad set of milestones and targets. 

The payment reflects progress on important reforms and investments, supporting: 

• the rule of law and the business environment, including anti-corruption measures introducing a politically and financially independent Anti-corruption Commission for preventing and countering corruption among persons holding public office, and the introduction of rules to regulate lobbying activities
• the increased use of renewable energy by supporting almost 1,400 solar domestic hot water systems or photovoltaic systems to produce electricity in households.
• the development of sustainable infrastructure and transport through new public rail service contracts and legal frameworks for zero- and low-emission mobility, such as electric mobility rules and low-emission zones.

Today’s disbursement follows Bulgaria’s fourth payment request for a total of €1.1 billion, submitted on 2 April 2026, and partially greenlighted by the Commission on 18 June 2026.  

Additional steps are still needed to fulfil milestone 176, concerning the entry into force of legislation on public transport; milestone 208, concerning the entry into force of legislation on water supply and sewerage; and target 308, concerning support for the cultural sector.

Following the Council’s favourable opinion, the Commission adopted a decision to disburse the funds linked to the milestones and targets deemed satisfactorily completed. The Commission will consider the disbursement of the remaining funds once Bulgaria has addressed the outstanding milestones and target. 

With this payment, Bulgaria has now received 68% of its total €6.17 billion allocation under the RRF. 

Denmark 

The Commission disbursed €359 million to Denmark under its fifth and final RRF payment request, marking the completion of all disbursements under Denmark’s recovery and resilience plan. 

The payment reflects the implementation of key reforms and investments, including: 

• measures to reduce CO2 emissions from agriculture and increase sustainable farming by investing in climate technologies such as biorefineries and removing peatlands from agriculture use.
• reforms and investments supporting the clean transition away from fossil fuels in road transport and private housing by supporting reduced registration fees for more than 250,000 zero-emission cars between 2021 and 2025, alongside a reduced electricity tax for private households charging electric vehicles at home.
• efforts to improve energy efficiency by replacing oil burners or gas furnaces in nearly 28,000 households with heat pumps or district heating connections, as well as energy renovation works in more than 11,500 homes, including the installation of energy-efficient windows and improved insulation.
• initiatives strengthening economic resilience and sustainable growth, notably by supporting vocational education and training institutions.

Today’s disbursement follows Denmark’s fifth payment request, submitted on 21 May 2026.

The Commission greenlighted Denmark’s fifth payment request on 30 June 2026.

With this fifth and final payment, Denmark becomes the first Member State to receive all the grants linked to its RRF plan well ahead of the end of 2026 deadline.

Denmark has now received 100% of its total €1.63 billion allocation under the RRF. 

Slovenia 

The Commission disbursed €41 million to Slovenia under its sixth RRF payment request, after the successful completion of the associated milestones and targets. 

The payment supports further implementation of reforms and investments in areas such as: 

• the rollout of e-health solutions and broader healthcare modernisation, through new functionalities of the national telemedicine system, ensuring remote communication between patients and doctors, as well as between doctors themselves.
• investments contributing to the clean transition, resilience and sustainable growth such as upgraded air-conditioning and ventilation systems in 22 municipal buildings, covering over 40,000 m², mainly schools and kindergartens, to improve energy efficiency and provide healthier indoor conditions.
• reforms enhancing the country’s social and economic resilience, with a special focus on reducing long-term unemployment.

Today’s disbursement follows Slovenia’s sixth payment request, submitted on 27 March 2026 and greenlighted by the Commission on 9 June 2026.     

This brings Slovenia’s total RRF disbursements to 87% of its €2.08 billion allocation. 

Background 

The Recovery and Resilience Facility is a performance-based instrument. This means that Member States receive payments only once they have satisfactorily fulfilled the milestones and targets set out in their national recovery and resilience plans. 

The RRF continues to support ambitious reforms and strategic investments across the European Union, contributing to a cleaner, more digital and more resilient economy. As the instrument approaches its conclusion, all reforms and investments must be completed by 31 August 2026, all payment requests must be submitted by 30 September 2026 and all corresponding payments must be carried out by 31 December 2026. 

An interactive map showcasing examples of reforms and investments supported by the RRF is available online. Further details on the RRF payment claim process are also available online. 

For more information 

Belgium’s recovery and resilience plan 

Bulgaria’s recovery and resilience plan 

Slovenia’s recovery and resilience plan 

Denmark’s recovery and resilience plan 

Recovery and Resilience Facility 

Recovery and Resilience Facility Regulation 

Recovery and Resilience Facility project map 

Recovery and Resilience Scoreboard 

EU as a borrower