Meer documentenCommission greenlights Poland's fifth payment request for €7.9 billion under NextGenerationEU
Today, the European Commission positively assessed Poland's fifth payment request for €7.9 billion under the Recovery and Resilience Facility, the centrepiece of NextGenerationEU.
This marks an important step in delivering the reforms and investments linked to this payment request, including support for digital technologies in schools, the use of satellite data, reforms to grid connections and the digitalisation of the electricity grid, the creation of low-emission urban transport zones, and the purchase of trams for cities.
The Commission found that Poland has satisfactorily completed the 16 milestones and 13 targets set out in the Council Implementing Decision.
Flagship measures in this payment request include:
- Strengthening digital technologies in education: more than 500,000 teachers — over 65% of the total teaching workforce — received vouchers to buy portable computers, helping to develop digital skills. In addition, over 16,500 primary and secondary schools, representing more than 75% of all public schools, were equipped with laptops and tablets for educational use.
- Promoting the use of satellite data: the adoption of the Space Activities Act established a governance framework for space activities and for the use of satellite data in Poland. This also supports and encourages the wider uptake of satellite data, including in the public sector.
- Supporting urban public transport: 88 trams were purchased for three Polish cities - Wrocław, Poznań and Kraków.
- Improving transparency in electricity network connections: amendments to the Polish Energy Law introduced a uniform set of rules for connections to the electricity network across Poland, required the publication of data on available connection capacity, and enabled the electronic submission of connection requests.
- Deploying smart electricity transmission infrastructure: support was provided for the roll-out of a data hub for the electricity market, alongside power quality monitoring systems in 48 substations and three IT systems for the transmission system operator.
Next steps
The Commission has now sent its preliminary assessment of Poland´s fulfilment of the milestones and targets required for this payment request to the Economic and Financial Committee (EFC), which has four weeks to deliver its opinion. The payment to Poland can take place following the EFC's opinion, and the adoption of a payment decision by the Commission.
Background
Poland submitted its fifth payment request on 19 June 2026. Poland's recovery and resilience plan includes a wide range of investment and reform measures. The plan will be financed by €54.72 billion (€25.28 billion in grants and €29.44 billion in loans).
Poland's recovery and resilience plan has a strong emphasis on social, green and digital elements, and an important REPowerEU chapter. It includes reforms aiming at supporting Poland's green and digital transitions, improving healthcare, and strengthening labour market institutions. Key investments include renewables, power grids, offshore wind, energy-efficient building renovation, sustainable and smart transport, childcare facilities, and hospital modernisation.
Today's payment request would bring the funds paid out to Poland under the Recovery and Resilience Facility to €42.05 billion, including €5.06 billion in pre-financing. This amount corresponds to 76.85% of all funds included in the Poland recovery and resilience plan, with 71.69% of all milestones and targets in the plan now fulfilled.
With a view to the closure of the Facility at the end of 2026, Member States must implement all outstanding milestones and targets by August 2026 and submit last payment requests by the end of September.
For more information
Commission's preliminary assessment of Poland's fifth payment request
Poland's recovery and resilience plan
Recovery and Resilience Facility
Recovery and Resilience Facility project map
Recovery and Resilience Scoreboard
