European Commission - Daily News Daily News 23 / 04 / 2026 Brussels, 23 April 2026 Commission greenlights Poland's fourth payment request for €7.2 billion under NextGenerationEU Today, the European Commission positively assessed Poland's fourth payment request for €7.2 billion under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), the centrepiece of NextGenerationEU. The RRF, the cornerstone of NextGenerationEU , is the C...
European Commission - Daily News Daily News 23 / 04 / 2026 Brussels, 23 April 2026 Commission greenlights Poland's fourth payment request for €7.2 billion under NextGenerationEU Today, the European Commission positively assessed Poland's fourth payment request for €7.2 billion under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), the centrepiece of NextGenerationEU. The RRF, the cornerstone of NextGenerationEU , is the Commission's flagship post-pandemic programme supporting Member States' recovery, economic growth, and competitiveness. Following its assessment of the payment request, the Commission found that Poland has satisfactorily completed the 30 milestones and 13 targets set out in the Council Implementing Decision . The reforms and investments tied to this payment request will drive positive change for citizens and businesses in Poland, improving healthcare services, digitising administrative processes, strengthening cybersecurity, expanding broadband infrastructure, reforming tax and labour laws, and advancing green initiatives—including hydrogen infrastructure, railway modernisation, and greater access to sustainable transport. Poland submitted its payment request on 23 December 2025. Poland's recovery and resilience plan includes a wide range of investment and reform measures supporting climate and digital transition objectives. The plan will be financed by €54.71 billion (€25.27 billion in grants and €29.44 billion loans). With today's positive assessment, this payment request will bring the funds paid to Poland by the Commission to €34.15 billion, corresponding to 62.4% of all the funds in its national plan, with 61% of all milestones and targets now fulfilled. With a view to the closure of the Facility at the end of 2026, Members States must implement all outstanding milestones and targets by August 2026 and submit their last payment requests by the end of September 2026. An interactive map showcasing examples of reforms and investments supported by the RRF, and further details on the RRF payment claim process are available online. A press release is available online. (For further information: Maciej Berestecki – Tel.: +32 2 296 64 83; Anna Wartberger – Tel.: +32 2 28 20 54) Commission disburses €1.18 billion to Greece under NextGenerationEU Today, the European Commission disbursed €1.18 billion in grants and loans to Greece, marking the seventh payment under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), the cornerstone of NextGenerationEU . Measures linked to this payment include improvements in energy and decarbonisation, transport, labour and skills development, and digitising government, healthcare, and business services. Today's disbursement follows Greece's seventh payment request, submitted on 19 December 2025 and approved by the Commission on 26 March 2026 . With this payment, Greece has received €24.6 billion or 68.5% of its total €35.95 billion allocation (€18.22 billion in grants and €17.73 billion in loans), with 53% of all milestones and targets under its national recovery and resilience plan now fulfilled. As with all Member States, payments to Greece under the RRF are performance-based, contingent upon the successful implementation of milestones and targets included in its recovery and resilience plan. (For further information: Maciej Berestecki – Tel.: +32 2 296 64 83; Anna Wartberger – Tel.: +32 2 28 20 54) Commission launches public consultation on European Ocean Act The European Commission has opened a public consultation to gather input on the European Ocean Act, set for adoption later this year, and a key legislative proposal under the European Ocean Pact , adopted by the Commission in June 2025. This consultation aims to ensure the future Ocean Act meets real-world needs. The Ocean Act will strengthen EU ocean governance, serving as a legal framework to align economic, climate, environmental, and social goals for protecting marine ecosystems and ensuring sustainable ocean use. It will take a coordinated approach, aligning the ongoing revision of the Maritime Spatial Planning Directive with the current update of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Running until 16 July 2026, the consultation invites stakeholders, public authorities and administrations, experts, citizens, and coastal communities to share their views via a structured questionnaire. You can find more information on the public consultation online, including how to fill the questionnaire. (For further information: Maciej Berestecki – Tel.: +32 2 296 64 83; Anna Wartberger – Tel.: +32 2 28 20 54) Commission approves €37 million Croatian State aid measure to support the construction of an industry centre for the gaming sector The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a €37 million Croatian measure to support the construction of an industry centre for the gaming sector in Novska, Sisak-Moslavina. The measure will allow the construction and equipping of two facilities dedicated to the gaming sector: a business incubator and a business accelerator. They will offer both standard and specialised workspaces, such as conference rooms, offices, and game testing areas, as well as business support services to start-ups and SMEs in the sector. The project is co-financed by the Just Transition Fund in Sisak-Moslavina, a region facing the challenges of transitioning away from heavy industries. The project will support the diversification of economic activities in the region with a focus on information and communications technology, specifically the gaming sector. It will also contribute to attracting and retaining talent in the area. The aid will take the form of a direct grant to RK SMŽ, the Regional Coordinator of the Sisak-Moslavina County, owner of the building. The Commission assessed the measure under EU State aid rules, in particular Article 107(3)(c) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, which allows Member States to support the development of certain economic activities under certain conditions. The Commission found that the measure is necessary and appropriate for the construction of the facilities which will contribute to the development of new economic activities, benefitting the Just Transition area of Sisak-Moslavina. Furthermore, the Commission found that the aid is proportionate , as it is limited to the minimum necessary, and will have a limited impact on competition and trade between Member States. On this basis, the Commission approved the Croatian measure under EU State aid rules. The non-confidential version of the decision will be made available under the case number SA.113992 in the State aid register on the Commission's competition website once any confidentiality issues have been resolved. (For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 2 298 01 00; Luuk de Klein – Tel.: +32 2 299 47 74) Commission approves €36 million Estonian State aid scheme to support energy-intensive companies The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a €36 million Estonian scheme to lower electricity levy rates for energy-intensive companies. The scheme aims to reduce the risk of these companies relocating their activities to countries outside the EU with less ambitious climate policies, which would result in an increase in global greenhouse gas emissions. The scheme will benefit companies in sectors listed in Annex 1 of the 2022 Guidelines on State aid for climate, environmental protection and energy ('CEEAG'). Those sectors rely heavily on electricity and are particularly exposed to international trade. Under the scheme, targeted companies will receive a levy reduction between 75% and 85%, depending on their risk exposure. The applicable reduction must not result in a levy below €0.5/MWh. Beneficiaries will have to implement certain energy audit recommendations, cover at least 30% of electricity consumption with renewable energy sources, or invest at least 50% of the aid in projects leading to substantial reductions of the installation's greenhouse gas emissions. The scheme will cover levy reductions until 31 December 2029. The Commission assessed the measure under EU State aid rules, in particular Article 107(3)(c) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU, which enables Member States to support the development of certain economic activities under certain conditions, and the CEEAG . The Commission concluded that the scheme is necessary and appropriate to avoid relocation. Furthermore, the Commission found that the scheme is proportionate , as it is limited to the minimum necessary and has limited impact on competition and trade between Member States. On this basis, the Commission approved the Estonian scheme under EU State aid rules. The non-confidential version of the decision will be made available under the number SA.121622 in the State aid register on the Commission's competition website once any confidentiality issues have been resolved. (For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 2 298 01 00; Luuk de Klein – Tel.: +32 2 299 47 74) Commission clears acquisition of Tecomet and Orchid by Charlesbank and Nordic Capital The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of joint control of Tecomet, Inc. and Orchid MPS Holdings, LLC (‘Orchid') by Charlesbank Capital Partners, LLC (‘Charlesbank'), all of the US, and Nordic Capital IX Limited (‘Nordic Capital') of Jersey. The transaction relates primarily to contract manufacturing services for orthopaedic implants and instruments. The Commission concluded that the notified transaction would not raise competition concerns, given the companies' limited combined market position resulting from the proposed transaction. The notified transaction was examined under the simplified merger review procedure. More information is available on the Commission's competition website , in the public case register under the case number M.12319 (For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 2 298 01 00; Paula Clara Ritter-Moschütz – Tel.: +32 2 296 40 83) Commission clears acquisition of Clearwater Analytics by Warburg Pincus and Permira The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of joint control of Clearwater Analytics Holdings, Inc. (‘Clearwater Analytics') by Warburg Pincus LLC, both of the US, and Permira Holdings Limited (‘Permira') of Guernsey. The transaction relates primarily to software solutions for managing investment data. The Commission concluded that the notified transaction would not raise competition concerns, given that the joint venture has negligible activities in the European Economic Area. The notified transaction was examined under the simplified merger review procedure. More information is available on the Commission's competition website , in the public case register under the case number M.12339 . (For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 2 298 01 00; Paula Clara Ritter-Moschütz – Tel.: +32 2 296 40 83) ANNOUNCEMENTS Executive Vice-President Mînzatu in Finland to discuss skills, education, and workforce readiness Today and tomorrow, Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness, Roxana Mînzatu , is in Helsinki, Finland, to discuss boosting skills, education, and workforce readiness to build a more adaptive and inclusive labour market. Today, the Executive Vice-President is visiting an anti-drone system company whose work contribute to the goals of the EU preparedness union strategy . She will also visit a teacher training school and the University of Helsinki's expert forum advising on teachers' education. Furthermore, she will exchange with citizens in a youth café aiming to prevent social exclusion and poverty, and visit a foundation supported by the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) that supports young people to get into and stay in education or employment. On Friday, Executive Vice-President Mînzatu will meet with Finish authorities and government representatives, starting with Finnish President, Alexander Stubb. She will also meet Employment Minister, Matias Marttinen, for an exchange on quality jobs, the Finnish labour market, and the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund , which has helped unemployed Finnish workers learn new skills and find a new job. The Executive Vice-President will meet European Affairs Minister, Joakim Strand, and Education Minister, Anders Adlercreutz, for discussions on Erasmus+ , Union of Skills actions and the upcoming Education package. Additionally, she will meet Social Security Minister, Sanni Grahn-Laasonen, to discuss preparedness, social security and occupational health. Executive Vice-President M înzatu and Minister Grahn-Laasonem will also visit a civil defence shelter. Lastly, she will meet representatives of the EU Committee of the Confederation of Finnish Industries and social partners. (For more information: Eva Hrnčířová — Tel.: +32 2 298 84 33; Eirini Zarkadoula - Tel.: +32 2 295 70 65) Tentative agendas for forthcoming Commission meetings Note that these items can be subject to changes. Upcoming events of the European Commission Eurostat press releases Calendar items of the President and Commissioners Individual calendars of the President and Commissioners MEX/26/867
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