The European Commission backed Romania’s 29.2 billion euro recovery and resilience plan (PNRR), setting out the reforms and public investment projects that the government plans to implement with the support of the European Union’s Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). The commission on 27 September adopted a proposal to provide 14.2 billion euros in grants and 14.9 billion euros in loans to Romania under the RRF to help it “emerge stronger” from the COVID-19 pandemic, RFE/RL reported.

In a Facebook post, coordinator of the PNRR, Cristian Ghinea, explained that Romania has to reach 507 milestones and targets related to the pledged reforms, G4Media reported. Every six months, the entire programme can be blocked unless authorities deliver on the milestones.

Meanwhile EC officials stressed during the official announcement of the PNRR in Bucharest on 27 September, that Romania needs “a functioning Government”, reported Romania Insider.