Commission greenlights Estonia's final payment request for €190.6 million under NextGenerationEU

Today, the European Commission greenlighted Estonia's fifth and final payment request for €190.6 million under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), the centrepiece of NextGenerationEU.

With this payment request, Estonia has implemented all the reforms and investments included in its recovery and resilience plan – corresponding to a total of €953 million – which represents 100% of its RRF funding.

This marks a major milestone in the implementation of the RRF and shows Luxembourg's commitment to delivering reforms and investments under its national recovery and resilience plan.

The Commission found that Estonia has satisfactorily completed the eight milestones and 19 targets set out in the Council Implementing Decision. They correspond to reforms and investments in the areas of skills, energy, health and digitalisation, including a reform to develop citizens' life event services online and a skills reform for the digital transformation of businesses.

Flagship measures in this payment request include:

• Making online public services more accessible for citizens: Ten life-event services are now available through Estonia's State Portal, bringing together information and administrative procedures for key moments in people's lives, such as the death of a loved one, divorce, and caring for a child with a health problem. This adds to the streamlining of procedures for merrier life events which are already available online such as the registration of marriages or the birth of children, as well as parental leave and family benefits. By making services accessible online and bringing related support together in one place, the reform reduces administrative burden and helps citizens access the services they need.
• Tackling shortages in the health workforce: Legislative changes give priority to study places in medical professions facing the most severe shortages, helping improve access to health care.
• Expanding very high-capacity broadband networks: A total of 112 broadband network projects have been completed, expanding access to networks capable of providing download speeds of 1 Gbps. This improved connectivity enables households to make greater use of online services, remote working, and learning, while helping businesses use digital technologies and reach customers.
• Improving the energy efficiency of homes: Energy efficiency renovations have been completed in 80 multi-apartment buildings and 998 small residential buildings. The renovated apartment buildings achieve calculated average primary energy savings of 35%, while the small residential buildings have improved their energy performance, with fully renovated buildings reaching at least energy efficiency class C. These investments help households reduce their energy needs and associated costs, while contributing to lower emissions.
• Boosting renewable energy production through a new biomethane plant: A new plant in Viiratsi has been constructed with an annual production capacity of approximately 11.6 million normal cubic metres of sustainable biomethane, using manure, slurry, and feed residues. The investment expands Estonia's domestic renewable energy supply, helping reduce reliance on fossil fuels and supporting energy security for citizens and businesses. It also enables agricultural businesses to turn residues into a valuable energy resource.

Next steps

The Commission has 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 fifth payment request on 29 September 2026.

The Estonian recovery and resilience plan – underpinned by €953 million - includes a wide range of investments and reforms supporting the green and digital transitions, strengthening energy security and business competitiveness and improving access to healthcare. Measures include energy-efficient home renovations, renewable energy and electricity grid upgrades, financing for innovative green technologies through the SmartCap Green Fund, digitalisation of businesses, integrating artificial intelligence into public services, building high-speed broadband networks in rural areas, construction of the Tallinn Old Port tram line, and the new TERVIKUM hospital and health centre in Viljandi. Reforms also strengthen primary healthcare, social protection and the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing.

Today's payment request would bring the total funds paid out to Estonia under the RRF to €953 million, including pre-financing. This means that 100% of the funding allocated to Estonia under its recovery and resilience plan will be delivered once the Council has also greenlighted the payment request, with all 113 milestones and targets successfully fulfilled.

With a view to the closure of the Facility at the end of 2026, Member States had to implement all outstanding milestones and targets by 31 August 2026 and submit their final payment requests by the end of September 2026.

For more information 

Commission's preliminary assessment of Estonia's fifth and final 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

EU as a borrower