The European Commission is currently reviewing details on how many EU Member States will spend their European recovery funds, to decide whether these plans put the EU on a path to a greener and more digital Europe. In carrying out this important scrutiny work, citizens expect that European institutions work in close collaboration.

“In fact, parliamentary scrutiny is the best way to guarantee the quality of the national recovery plans financed with European money,” declared Dacian Cioloș MEP, President of Renew Europe, continuing: “It is the job of elected Members of the European Parliament to make sure the EU recovery money goes to the right projects and funds the right reforms. In other words, politicians need to make sure the national recovery plans prepare Member States for a greener, more digital Europe.”

It is also crucial that the national plans are checked against the "Do No Significant Harm (to the environment)" principle not only when submitted, but also that the activities and reforms respect it when implemented.

ALDE Party Vice-President Luis Garicano MEP (Ciudadanos, ES), Renew Europe Spokesperson for Economic Affairs and Member of the ECON Parliamentary Committee, concluded: “Our message to EU capitals is clear: success of the Recovery and Resilience Facility requires combining investments with reforms to allow the plans to improve the welfare of the next generation. European Parliament scrutiny is crucial to ensure that Europe is not a cash machine."