PRR: Minister of Economy welcomes approval of 7th payment and says process is “up to date”

The Minister of Economy and Territorial Cohesion, Manuel Castro Almeida, today welcomed the approval of the seventh payment request for the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP), saying that it is a process that is “up to date”.

"I'd like you to join me in celebrating the fact that Portugal has received its seventh payment request today. All milestones and targets of the seventh payment request have been recognized as valid, and payment has been made in full, meaning we're up to date," Castro Almeida said during the procedural hearing in the Assembly of the Republic, responding to Liberal Initiative (IL) MP Carlos Guimarães Pinto.

“We were already up to date, we received the seventh payment request, and we will present the eighth payment request within the deadline, to remain up to date,” he added.

At stake is the disbursement of 1,064 million euros, raising the overall execution rate of the RRP to 47%.

In a statement, the Community executive indicated today that, following the assessment of the payment request, the Commission concluded that Portugal had satisfactorily met the 11 milestones and 16 targets of the Council Implementing Decision regarding the seventh instalment.

The measures related to this payment request include, in particular, the acquisition of medical equipment, support for vulnerable people at risk of social exclusion, new vehicles and equipment for firefighters, civil protection and security forces, and publicly accessible electric vehicle charging stations.

In parliament, the Minister of Economy also issued a warning to the State and local authorities to prepare "to live, from 2027 onwards, without PRR resources for investment and even without human resources" that were hired for this purpose.

In a statement issued after the approval, the minister also said that the assessment is "a clear sign that Portugal is transforming ambition into results" and that the European Commission's confidence is proof that the implementation of the RRP is being done "well and with determination."

Once this instalment is approved by the Council, the funds paid to Portugal under the RRF will amount to €13.8 billion (including the €2.33 billion in pre-financing it received in September 2021 and the €171 million pre-payment under REPowerEU it received on 21 December 2023).

In addition to Portugal, Greece and Slovenia also saw payment requests approved, totaling almost four billion euros.