(ANSA-AFP) - BRUSSELS, 08 JUL - German Chancellor Angela
Merkel on Wednesday urged EU countries to show solidarity and
overcome deep divisions to approve a massive coronavirus
recovery plan this summer. The leaders of the 27 EU states meet
in Brussels next week for a crunch summit aimed at agreeing a
750-billion euro ($843-billion) plan to tackle the economic
devastation wrought by the pandemic. But a group of countries, a
so-called "Frugal Four", are trying to rein in spending, which
is earmarked mainly for the poorer countries of southern Europe
hardest hit by the COVID-19 epidemic. "We need extraordinary
solidarity, everyone is ready, especially Germany, to overcome
the pandemic, to deal with its consequences", Merkel told the
European Parliament in a speech to mark Germany taking over the
EU's rotating presidency for six months. Next week's summit --
the first physical meeting of leaders since travel restrictions
were put in place to try to stem the spread of coronavirus -- is
set to be a fraught affair. The Netherlands, Austria, Denmark
and Sweden insist that loans with tough conditions attached,
rather than grants, should be the preferred method of rescue and
are not in a rush to make a deal. But some other countries argue
that the plan, drawn up by the European Commission, misallocates
the money, giving too much to eastern Europeans who were never
on the front lines of the pandemic. (ANSA-AFP). (ANSA).
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