Europäischer Rechnungshof - European Court of Auditors
Did COVID-recovery billions improve the EU business environment? (Press invitation)
Press invitation
for 27 October 2025
Did COVID-recovery billions improve the EU business environment?
- Online press briefing: Monday 27 October at 10.00 a.m. CET
- Publication: Same day at 5.00 p.m. CET
The European Court of Auditors (ECA) would like to invite you to an online press briefing on its upcoming special report on the financial support for an improved business environment from the EU’s €650 billion Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) – at 10.00 a.m. CET on Monday 27 October 2025.
The purpose of the briefing is to provide a detailed overview of the audit, and to put its conclusions and recommendations into context. There will also be an opportunity to discuss the report with ECA Member Ivana Maletić and representatives of the audit team.
RSVP: Please let us know by 1.00 p.m. on Friday 24 October whether you intend to take part in the online briefing; we will then send you detailed instructions on how to connect. To allow for an informed discussion, confirmed participants can receive an embargoed copy of the report and press release upon request ahead of the briefing. Both documents will be published on the ECA website at 5.00 p.m. on Monday 27 October.
Background
In the EU, the lockdowns and social-distancing measures that were imposed to combat the COVID-19 pandemic profoundly disrupted business and trade, mainly in 2020. In 2021, to mitigate the economic fallout, the EU established the RRF, worth a total of €650 billion. To receive the funds, EU countries had to commit to a set of investments and reforms aimed at fostering sustainable economic recovery and resilience in key areas. These measures had to address structural challenges identified in the country-specific recommendations (CSRs) issued by the Council of the EU, which included promoting private investment, simplifying tax systems, and reducing administrative burdens. These types of issue affect the creation, development and operation of companies, a process known as the business environment.
The auditors examined whether and to what extent the RRF measures contributed effectively to addressing the business environment CSRs. They also checked whether the reforms that were implemented have helped to achieve the intended objectives in four member states: Bulgaria, Spain, Cyprus and Austria.
Press contact
ECA press office: press@eca.europa.eu
Damijan Fišer: M: (+352) 621 552 224