Section outline
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Online discussion - “Should reforms be linked to EU funding? Lessons from the RRF for the future NRPPs” (28/04/2026)
The purpose of this online discussion was to explore whether and how reforms should be linked to EU funding, focusing on their role in future EU funding instruments. The discussion will draw on lessons from the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), as well as expectations for National Regional and Partnership Plans (NRPPs) and the evolving EU budget architecture.
At the beginning of the event, we will present key insights from the design and implementation of the RRF, particularly regarding the suitability and success of RRF reforms and ECA’s previous work in this area. We will then build on these lessons in light of the ECA’s recently published opinions on the future Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), reflecting on the risks detected and highlighted in these Opinions.
Finally, we invited participants to share their views on the role of reforms in EU funding, their experience in implementing RRF-funded reforms, and the challenges ahead, including how these elements could shape the future of EU finances.
The discussion was based on the recently published:- Opinion 09/2026 on the European Fund (National and Regional Partnership plans)
- Opinion 10/2026 on tracking EU spending (Performance Regulation)
As well as the following ECA publications:
- Review 02/2025: Performance-orientation, accountability and transparency: Lessons to be learned from the weaknesses of the RRF
- Special report 10/2025: Labour market reforms in the national recovery and resilience plans: Some results, but not sufficient to address structural challenges
- Special report 21/2025: RRF support for an improved business environment: Only partially addresses country-specific recommendations, but some first results contributed to progress in their implementation