Romania is one step closer to receiving EUR 2.62 billion in grants under its National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), after the European Union’s Economic and Financial Committee (EFC) endorsed the European Commission’s positive assessment of the country’s fourth payment request.

The approval marks a significant milestone in Romania’s implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), the EU’s flagship post-pandemic investment program.

The fourth payment request, submitted by Romania on December 19, 2025, is valued at EUR 2.62 billion and includes 38 milestones and 24 targets. The European Commission concluded on May 14, 2026, that all commitments associated with the request had been satisfactorily fulfilled.

Importantly, the payment request was approved without any suspensions, meaning all milestones and targets were deemed completed in line with the requirements of the Recovery and Resilience Facility.

The final procedural step before the disbursement can be authorized is the comitology procedure within the Recovery and Resilience Facility Committee, scheduled to take place later this month.

“The approval of this stage for Payment Request No. 4, worth EUR 2.62 billion and without any suspension, is a very important signal for Romania. It demonstrates that when coordination and implementation speed are in place, we can deliver milestones, reforms and investments within a very demanding timetable,” said Romanian Finance Minister Alexandru Nazare.

Nazare stressed that Romania must now focus on maximizing the remaining funds available under the Recovery and Resilience Facility before the program’s final deadlines.

“The next challenge is equally significant: we must maximize the remaining amounts available under the PNRR before the final 2026 deadline. Every euro absorbed matters for investments, reforms and Romania’s credibility. The PNRR remains one of the country’s main sources of financing at a time when fiscal consolidation efforts must continue,” he said.

The minister added that the objective is not merely to complete administrative procedures but to translate European funding into tangible economic results.

“It is not enough to tick procedural boxes. We must transform these funds into completed projects, implemented reforms and investments that deliver visible benefits to the economy,” Nazare said.

According to the European assessment, Romania has achieved progress in several key areas, including tax system reform and the modernization of tax administration procedures.

The Economic and Financial Committee also noted that there is no evidence of any reversal of measures associated with milestones and targets previously achieved under the plan.

Romania’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan currently has a total value of EUR 21.41 billion, including EUR 13.57 billion in grants and EUR 7.84 billion in loans.

Following the authorization of the fourth payment request, total funds received by Romania under the PNRR, including pre-financing, will reach approximately EUR 12.97 billion. This would bring the country’s absorption rate to around 61% of the total allocation.

The Ministry of Finance emphasized that accelerating PNRR implementation remains essential for supporting public investment, reducing pressure on the national budget and maintaining Romania’s credibility with European partners and financial markets.

Under the European timetable, all milestones and targets included in national recovery plans must be completed by August 31, 2026, while the final payment request must be submitted to the European Commission by September 30, 2026.