Key data
| Regulation | Order TDF/647/2026, of June 22 (amends Order TDF/1494/2024, of December 23) |
|---|---|
| Publication | June 26, 2026 |
| Entry into force | June 27, 2026 |
| Affected parties | Media outlets with supra-regional coverage benefiting from AI grants (Next Generation EU) |
| Category | Grants and Subsidies |
| New execution deadline | August 31, 2026 |
| Financing framework | Next Generation EU Funds — Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (PRTR) |
| Updated PRTR milestone | Milestone 253 (actions in AI and quantum computing) |
| Eliminated PRTR milestone | Milestone 251 (removed from regulatory reference) |
Media outlets benefiting from grants to integrate artificial intelligence in their value chains, financed with Next Generation EU funds, have a new window to execute their projects: the deadline is extended until August 31, 2026. This is established by Order TDF/647/2026, of June 22, published in the BOE on June 26, 2026 and in force from the following day.
This order amends Order TDF/1494/2024, of December 23, which established the regulatory bases and called for these grants. The change responds to the complexity of R&D projects and the new amendment to the PRTR approved by the European Commission in January 2026.
What does this regulation establish?
Order TDF/647/2026 introduces three specific modifications to the previous regulation:
| Aspect | Before (Order TDF/1494/2024) | Now (Order TDF/647/2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Project execution deadline | Not specified in available data | Until August 31, 2026 |
| PRTR Milestone 251 | Referenced in the regulation | Eliminated (milestone removed from PRTR) |
| PRTR Milestone 253 | Referenced without update | Updated: contribution to actions in AI and quantum computing |
| Effect on existing grants | — | Automatic transfer to all existing grant resolutions |
The official justification for the extension is twofold: the inherent complexity of R&D projects in artificial intelligence and the new amendment to the PRTR approved by the European Commission in January 2026, which enables this additional margin. No new aid lines are created nor is public spending increased: the objective is to facilitate more efficient execution of already allocated funds.
Economic and operational impact
For media outlets already receiving grants, the impact is positive and direct: they have more time to complete technical execution and justify spending to the competent bodies, without needing to request any additional modification to their grant resolution.
From an operational perspective, the key points are:
- Automatic transfer of the new deadline: there is no need to submit a modification request. The extension operates by right over all existing grant resolutions.
- No increase in public spending: the modification does not open new budget items nor increases the amounts already granted. It only facilitates the execution of what has already been approved.
- PRTR framework update: the elimination of milestone 251 and the update of milestone 253 align the regulation with the new structure of the Recovery Plan following the January 2026 amendment, which may affect the justification documentation that beneficiaries must submit.
- Risk of non-execution: although the deadline is extended, August 31, 2026 is a definitive deadline. Projects not executed or not properly justified before that date could lose the right to the subsidy.
Who does it affect?
- Media outlets with supra-regional coverage that are already beneficiaries (grant recipients) of the aid called for by Order TDF/1494/2024 to integrate AI in their value chains.
- Managers of R&D projects in AI within these media outlets: innovation directors, CTOs and technical teams managing the execution of subsidized projects.
- Financial managers and CFOs of the beneficiary media outlets, who must update spending justification schedules with the granting body.
- Advisors and consulting firms that support media outlets in managing European funds and PRTR.
This regulation does not affect media outlets with exclusively regional or local scope, nor entities that are not beneficiaries of the original call under Order TDF/1494/2024.
Practical example
A media group with supra-regional coverage was a grant recipient for one of these aids to develop an AI-based automatic content generation system. The project, of high technical complexity, could not be completed within the original deadline due to the difficulties inherent to R&D projects.
Thanks to Order TDF/647/2026, this group does not need to submit any modification request to its grant resolution: the new deadline until August 31, 2026 applies automatically. The team can continue technical execution and prepare spending justification according to PRTR milestone 253 (actions in AI and quantum computing), since milestone 251 has been eliminated from the regulatory reference and should not be included in the project closure documentation.
What should companies do now?
- Verify the project execution status: review what technical and spending milestones remain pending before August 31, 2026.
- Update the justification schedule: adapt the internal work plan to the new deadline, ensuring that all justification documentation will be ready before that date.
- Review PRTR reference documentation: replace any mention of milestone 251 (eliminated) with milestone 253 in reports, memoranda and project closure documentation.
- Confirm with the granting body the updated justification requirements following the January 2026 amendment to the PRTR, especially regarding milestone 253 on actions in AI and quantum computing.
- Do not submit a deadline modification request: the transfer is automatic. Submitting an unnecessary procedure could create administrative confusion.
Frequently asked questions
Until when do I have to execute my AI project if I am a beneficiary of these grants?
The new execution deadline is until August 31, 2026, according to Order TDF/647/2026. This deadline applies automatically to all existing grant resolutions, without needing to request any modification.
Do I have to request the deadline extension or does it apply automatically?
It applies automatically. Order TDF/647/2026 expressly establishes that deadline changes are transferred automatically to the grant resolutions of all beneficiaries already receiving grants. There is no need to submit any additional procedure.
What is PRTR milestone 253 and why does it affect my justification?
PRTR milestone 253 corresponds to actions in artificial intelligence and quantum computing. Following the amendment to the PRTR approved by the European Commission in January 2026, Order TDF/647/2026 updates the contribution of these grants to that milestone and eliminates the reference to milestone 251, which has been removed. Beneficiaries must ensure that their justification documentation references milestone 253 and not 251.
Are new grants opened or is the budget increased with this modification?
No. Order TDF/647/2026 does not create new aid lines nor increases public spending. Its only objective is to extend the execution deadline for already granted projects and update PRTR references, facilitating more efficient execution of already allocated funds.
What happens if I do not execute or justify the project before August 31, 2026?
August 31, 2026 is the definitive deadline established by the regulation. Projects not executed or whose spending is not properly justified before that date could lose the right to the granted subsidy. It is recommended to review with the granting body the exact justification requirements.
Official source
Consult complete regulation in official source
Notice: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-13939