EU Cohesion policy: €300 million to support measures for recovery and transition for France and Germany

The Commission has approved the modification of two European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) operational programmes (OPs) under REACT-EU that make available nearly €300 million for France and Germany. The funds continue and extend the crisis response and repair measures delivered through the Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative packages (CRII and CRII+). Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Elisa Ferreira, said: “REACT-EU is one of the tools that the Commission has put at the disposal of Member States to support them to overcome the coronavirus crisis and move towards a long-term recovery. I urge all EU countries to take advantage of the opportunities available.” In France, the amendment of the ‘Lower Normandy OP’ will support (in Lower but also Higher Normandy) the health sector, in particular the modernisation of health institutions, as well as businesses and the recovery of the local economy, the tourism sector, the green and numerical economy, the acceleration of investments in energy transition, sustainable mobility and urban regeneration. In Germany, the amendment of the ‘North Rhine-Westphalia OP’ will finance green, digital and resilient recovery measures. In particular, investments will target distance learning in schools and other training institutions, digitisation of businesses and the switch to low-emissions in the transport sector. As part of NextGenerationEU, REACT-EU provides a top-up of €47.5 billion (€50.5 billion in current prices) to Cohesion policy programmes over the course of 2021 and 2022. Measures under REACT-EU focus on supporting labour market resilience, jobs, SMEs and low-income families, as well as setting future-proof foundations for green and digital transitions and a sustainable socio-economic recovery.