Commission ratings by criteria

On 6 July 2023, the Netherlands submitted its amended NRRP, which included a new chapter on REPowerEU. The European Commission informed that the nature and extent of the modifications do not have an impact on the previous positive assessment of the plan, and endorsed the amended version on 29 September 2023.
For 12 out of the 13 assessment criteria set in the RRF Regulation (Annex V), the Commission gave the highest possible rating (A) to the plan. The NRRP is thereby expected, to a large extent, to have a lasting impact on the Netherlands. Similarly to other Member States, criterion No 9 (costing) received a B (medium) rating. According to the Commission, the justification provided on the amount of the estimated total costs of the NRRP (including the REPowerEU chapter) is, to a medium extent reasonable and plausible, in line with the principle of cost-efficiency, and is commensurate to the expected national economic and social impact.
Under criterion No 1, the Commission concludes that the Dutch plan represents, to a large extent, a comprehensive and adequately balanced response to the economic and social situation, and contributes appropriately to all six pillars of the RRF. Under criterion No 2, the Commission finds that the plan is expected to contribute to a subset of challenges identified in the CSRs, including fiscal aspects. Furthermore, the Commission expects that the plan can have high impact on strenghtening the growth potential, job creation and economic, social and institutional resilience of the Netherlands, helping to implement the European pillar of social rights (criterion No 3).
The Commission concludes that the plan is expected to ensure that no measure for the implementation of reforms and investment projects included in it does significant harm to environmental objectives (criterion No 4), and that it contains measures that contribute to a large extent to the green transition, including biodiversity (criterion No 5). The Commission is of the opinion that the plan contains measures that contribute to a large extent to the digital transition (criterion No 6), and that it is expected, to a large extent, to bring about a structural change in other policy areas, and to have a lasting economic and societal impact (criterion No 7).
The arrangements proposed in the plan are considered adequate to ensure its effective monitoring and implementation, and to prevent, detect and correct corruption, fraud and conflicts of interests (criterions Nos 8 and 10). Additionally, under criterion No 11, the Commission considers that the plan contains measures for the implementation of reforms and public investments, which, to a high extent, represent coherent actions.
Lastly, the measures in the new REPowerEU chapter are expected to improve deployment and integration of renewable energy sources and thereby help reduce reliance on fossil fuels and contribute to increasing energy security and diversification of the EU’s energy supply (criterion No 12). The Commission considers that all REPowerEU measures included in the plan have a cross-country or multi-country dimension or effect (criterion No 13).