EU executive criticizes national plans for post-Covid revival, sources say

Plans submitted by EU member states so far for spending a record 1.8 trillion euros to rebuild economies wrecked by Covid-19 fall short on reforms and must be improved, in the view of the European Commission, three diplomatic sources said.

The EU executive's downbeat assessment, shared with envoys from the 27 member states at a closed-door meeting on January 7, highlights the uphill battle the European Union faces in spending so much money.

Red tape, political wrangling and a track record of fraud risk hampering efforts to put EU countries on a more even footing after the pandemic, which has exacerbated the wealth gap across the continent.

"The plans lack structural reforms, strategic vision, concrete targets, and cost-effectiveness. A lot of work remains to be done," said one Brussels diplomat, relaying criticism by the Commission at the meeting.

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