Milestone-Based Approach Raises Concerns in EU Funding

Auditors can't trace how countries spent €577 billion pandemic recovery fund, with thousands of recipients unidentified.
Recovery and Resilience Facility (established 2020) distributes funds based on 'milestones' instead of project costs.
Italy, Austria, Romania, Slovakia arrested 22 for suspected siphoning of €600 million in relief funds.
France claims collecting recipient data is too administratively burdensome.
European Commission defends system with progress reports and engagement to address inconsistencies.
Auditors worry milestone approach may extend to next 7-year spending package (2 trillion euros) as Parliament weighs future laws.
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