Ministers focused on the economic recovery in Europe. They exchanged views on the Council implementing decisions on the approval of national recovery and resilience plans for Croatia, Cyprus, Lithuania and Slovenia. In order to formally adopt the decisions, the written procedure will be started shortly after the informal meeting held today. At the end of the written procedure, these four member states will be able to sign grant and loan agreements and receive pre-financing from the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility.
Ministers also discussed further implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility. The facility will make available a total of €672.5 billion in grants and loans to foster the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds will be used for reforms and investments in the member states, supporting the EU’s climate transition and digital transformation.
We continue with the work on the European economic recovery. Following our informal meeting today, we have good news for Croatia, Cyprus, Lithuania and Slovenia. They will soon be able to start receiving funds and begin implementing their recovery and resilience plans. One year after the EU leaders agreed the historical deal on the recovery package, more than half of our member states are now ready to kick-off the reforms and investments needed to make our economy fit for the future. – Andrej Šircelj, Slovenia’s Minister for Finance
- Recovery fund: ministers welcome assessment of four more national plans (press release, 26 July 2021)
- A recovery plan for Europe (background information and timeline)
Anti-money laundering
Ministers took stock of the European Commission’s recently adopted anti-money laundering package. The package aims to enhance the existing EU framework, taking into account new challenges related to technological innovation. It is a part of the EU’s efforts to fight money laundering and financing of terrorism in order to prevent the misuse of the financial market.
Meeting information
- Meeting n°VC-ECOFIN-260721
- Video conference
- 26 July 2021, 10:00
Preparatory documents
Outcome documents
Press releases
- Recovery fund: ministers welcome assessment of four more national plans – 26 July 2021, 11:40