In front of an audience composed, among others, of Portuguese national and local authorities, MEPs and MPs, as well as EU Ambassadors and other members of the diplomatic corps, Commissioner Ferreira announced the disbursement of the first payment of €1.16 billion (excluding pre-financing) to Portugal under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), made up of €553.44 million in grants and €609 million in loans. Payments made to Portugal under the RRF are performance-based and depend on the implementation of the investments and reforms described in Portugal's recovery and resilience plan. On 25 January 2022, Portugal submitted a first request for payment to the Commission of €1.16 billion under the RRF covering 38 milestones and targets. These concern reforms and investments in the areas of health, social housing, social services, investment and innovation, qualifications and skills, forestry, the blue economy, bio-economy, renewable gases (including hydrogen), public finances and public administration. On 25 March 2022, the Commission adopted a positive preliminary assessment of Portugal's request for payment. The favourable opinion of the Economic and Financial Committee of the Council on the payment request paved the way for the Commission to adopt a final decision on the disbursement of the funds.