The European Commission has approved Italy's next tranche of 21 billion euros from a pandemic recovery fund, the AP reports.

The outgoing government of Prime Minister Mario Draghi, the former head of the European Central Bank, received the funds after reaching the 45 milestones required by Brussels to get the money. These included public administration, education and health reforms, as well as investments in technology, research, tourism and culture. The first sum of 21 billion euros, also linked to reforms and investments, was transferred to Italy in April.

Italy received the largest share of the European Union's recovery fund, about 191.5 billion euros, since it was the country that suffered most financially from the first wave of the pandemic.