To benefit from the support of the Recovery and Resilience Facility set up by the EU in the aftermath of the COVID-19-induced economic crisis, Member States submit their recovery and resilience plans to the European Commission. Each plan sets out the reforms and investments to be implemented by end-2026 and Member States can receive financing up to a previously agreed allocation. Each plan should effectively address challenges identified in the European Semester, particularly the country-specific recommendations of 2019 and 2020 adopted by the Council. It should also advance the green and digital transitions and make Member States’ economies and societies more resilient. The Commission validates the plan after which it effectively enters in force and EU subsidies can start flowing towards the member state.The European Commission has given a positive assessment to Czechia’s recovery and resilience plan, which will be financed by €7 billion in grants. 42% of the plan’s total allocation for reforms and investments supports climate objectives, including:
- Energy efficiency: financing large-scale renovation programmes to increase the energy efficiency of residential and public buildings, childcare and long-term care facilitites. €1.6 billion
- Renewable energy sources: supporting the installation of renewable energy sources for businesses and households. €480 million
- Sustainable mobility: financing of more than 5,000 low-emission vehicles for the public and business sector, promoting the deployment of over 4,500 electric charging stations, improving railway infrastructure and 90 km of cycling pathways. €1.1 billion
- Circular economy: investing in recycling infrastructure and support for circular economy solutions and water savings in businesses.€141 million
Czechia’s recovery and resilience plan was updated on 17 October 2023 also to introduce a REPowerEU chapter. It outlines:
- 105 investment streams and 58 reforms
- 43% of the plan will support climate objectives
- 23% of the plan will foster the digital transition.
The reforms address bottlenecks to lasting and sustainable growth, while investments are targeted to accelerate the transition towards low-carbon and climate-resilient economy, to maximise the benefits of the digital transformation and improve the quality of public administration. The plan also aims at fostering social cohesion and resilience by increasing the availability and quality of healthcare, tackling inequalities in education and investing in pre-school facilities. All measures have to be implemented within a tight time frame, as the Regulation establishing the Recovery and Resilience Facility requires all milestones and targets within the national plans to be completed by August 2026.
