Rome, 30 Dec. (LaPresse) – "Today, Italy received payment of the eighth instalment of the PNRR from the European Commission, amounting to €12.8 billion, following the positive assessment on 1 December of the achievement of 32 objectives, including 16 targets and 16 milestones. On the same day, Italy also sent the Commission a request for payment of the ninth and penultimate instalment of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, also amounting to €12.8 billion." This was announced in a statement from Palazzo Chigi, explaining that “the request follows the work of the PNRR Steering Committee on 22 December, during which the achievement of 50 objectives, divided into 34 targets and 16 milestones, was verified, including reforms and strategic investments to support Italy's economic and social growth”. “The ninth instalment will be paid, as usual, following the European evaluation process, aimed at verifying the achievement of the milestones and targets set,” the statement concludes. With the request for payment of the ninth instalment, Italy confirms its leading position in Europe in the implementation of the NRRP, both in terms of the number of objectives achieved and the amount received, which with the eighth instalment rises to €153.2 billion, equal to 79% of the total allocation, compared to the European average of 60%," said Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.