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European Commission - Press release Commission greenlights Estonia's fourth payment request for €135.5 million under NextGenerationEU Brussels, 16 July 2026 Today, the European Commission positively assessed Estonia's fourth payment request under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), the centrepiece of NextGenerationEU. This payment request reflects significant progress across a wide range of reforms aimed at d...
European Commission - Press release Commission greenlights Estonia's fourth payment request for €135.5 million under NextGenerationEU Brussels, 16 July 2026 Today, the European Commission positively assessed Estonia's fourth payment request under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), the centrepiece of NextGenerationEU. This payment request reflects significant progress across a wide range of reforms aimed at driving positive change for citizens and businesses in Estonia, notably in the area of digitalisation , education , health and the green transition , including supporting children with higher care needs and facilitating the deployment of renewable energy. It also supports the digital transition through the rollout of digital construction tools and development of a digital gateway for entrepreneurs. The Commission found that Estonia has satisfactorily completed the 11 milestones and 10 targets set out in the Council Implementing Decision . Flagship measures in this payment request include: Construction of the new Tervikum hospital: a new, modern county general hospital and health centre in the city of Viljandi, directly serving the Viljandi County residents and indirectly supporting the surrounding counties. The new hospital is networked with the health care centre, ensuring patient-oriented cooperation between providers of primary care, specialist care and social services. Completion of major investments in sustainable mobility: a new 2.5 km section of the Tallinn Old Port tram line has been completed, increasing the share of sustainable mobility in the Tallinn region. Furthermore, 18 bike and walkways have been constructed across the country, contributing to safe and sustainable access to public services, including public transport and workplaces. Developing event services and digital gateways for entrepreneurs : making ten additional services available to entrepreneurs. These range from centralised authorisation management for representatives of legal entities and information on grants for entrepreneurs to services related to activity licences and notifications of economic activities, all accessible in one place. Supporting children with higher care needs : modernising and integrating services, including in areas such as health and social protection, will improve care provision for children with higher care needs. Next steps The Commission has now sent its preliminary assessment of Estonia's fulfilment of the milestones and targets required for this payment to the Economic and Financial Committee (EFC), which has four weeks to deliver its opinion. The payment to Estonia can take place following the EFC's opinion, and the adoption of a payment decision by the Commission. Background Estonia submitted its fourth payment request on 31 March 2026. The Estonian recovery and resilience plan has a strong emphasis on investments in the areas of climate adaptation, transportation, digitalisation of enterprises and social and health services. Key reforms and investments focus on incentivising the production of renewable energy, digitalising the public administration, zero-emission mobility, long-term care, affordable housing, energy- efficiency renovations of buildings, construction of railway infrastructure. Today's payment request would bring the funds paid out to Estonia under the RRF to €763 million (including the €126 million in pre-financing it received in September 2021 and the €18 million pre- payment under REPowerEU it received on 21 December 2023), which correspond to 80% of all the funds in the Estonian plan, with 76% of all the milestones and targets in the plan fulfilled. For more information Commission's preliminary assessment of Estonia's fourth payment request Estonia's Recovery and Resilience plan Recovery and Resilience Facility Recovery and Resilience Facility project map Recovery and Resilience Scoreboard Recovery and Resilience Facility Regulation Recovery and Resilience Facility - questions and answers EU as a borrower IP/26/1642 Press contacts: Louise BOGEY (+32 2 29 69776) Anna WARTBERGER (+32 2 29 82054) General public inquiries: Europe Direct by phone 00 800 67 89 10 11 or by email
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