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The NextGenerationEU economic recovery plan was decided upon by the institutions and member states of the European Union in order to assist the rebounding of the European economy following the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic. The recovery plan focuses on six policy areas which the member states are required to invest the funds in.

According to a survey by Deloitte, the policy area which the greatest portion of EU citizens want their country to invest in is Education, Training, and Research. Many see this policy area as the key to unlocking long-term growth in the EU, particularly as ageing populations in Europe require the next generation of workers to be more productive in order to maintain growth.

Other areas which citizens want to see prioritized include Healthcare and Digitalization & Innovation. Following the pandemic, the topic of the capacity of healthcare systems has come into greater focus in the public discourse, as citizens are demanding greater investment in hospitals, medical training, and preparations for future medical emergencies, like that of the pandemic. Digitalization is a key area for investment, as European firms attempt to keep up with the world leaders in technology, which are mostly in the United States and China.