Brussels: The European Commission disbursed pound 12.8 billion to Italy, marking the ninth payment under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF).

According to Emirates News Agency, the Facility is the centrepiece of NextGenerationEU - the Commission's post-pandemic programme to support Member States' recovery, economic growth, and competitiveness. This payment supports a range of measures, including reforms and investments in key areas such as public administration, tax governance, justice, and public procurement; education, employment, and tackling undeclared work; research, healthcare, tourism, and culture; as well as sustainable mobility, energy, agriculture, and the transition to a circular economy.

Italy's overall recovery and resilience plan is financed by pound 194.4 billion (pound 71.8 billion in grants and pound 122.6 billion in loans). As with all Member States, payments to Italy under the RRF are performance-based, contingent upon the successful implementation of its recovery and resilience plan. With this ninth payment, Italy reaches 85% of its funds earmarked of Italy's recovery and resilience plan.