Macron says EU virus rescue summit 'moment of truth'

16:16, July 17, 2020

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  EU summit leader appeals for unity on virus fund

  Seeking to tug at the hearts of all European Union leaders, EU Council president Charles Michel implored them late Sunday to overcome their fundamental divisions and agree on an unprecedented 1.85 trillion-euro ($2.1 trillion) EU budget and coronavirus recovery fund to tackle the crisis.from left, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, Austrias Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, Finlands Prime Minister Sanna Marin, Swedens Prime Minister Stefan Lofven and Denmarks Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen meet on the sidelines of an EU summit at the European Council building in Brussels, Sunday, July 19, 2020. (Photo: AP)After three days of fruitless talks, Michel conjured up during an official dinner the vision of the 600,000 dead that COVID-19 has claimed around the world and the unprecedented recession it has wrought on the bloc."Are the 27 EU leaders capable of building European unity and trust or, because of a deep rift, will we present ourselves as a weak Europe, undermined by distrust," he asked the leaders at the end of another day of divisive negotiations. The text of the behind-closed-doors speech was obtained by The Associated Press."I wish that we succeed in getting a deal and that the European media can headline tomorrow that the EU succeeded in a Mission Impossible," Michel said.Heading into a fourth day of talks when the summit was meant to last only two, any compromise was still out of reach. An official close to Michel, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the private talks, said leaders would work deep into the night if necessary.Even with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron negotiating as the closest of partners, the traditionally powerful Franco-German alliance could not get the blocs 27 quarreling nations in line.Often negotiating outdoors on a sundeck in the Europa summit center in Brussels, the blue skies and fresh breeze had no impact on the mood. Undiplo...

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  Merkel warns EU virus recovery summit could end with no deal

  Photo:A European Union flag flutters outside the European Commission headquarters, ahead of an EU leaders summit at the European Council headquarters, in Brussels, Belgium, on July 16, 2020. /AgenciesAn EU summit to agree a huge coronavirus economic rescue package could collapse without a deal, German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned on Sunday, as bickering leaders began a third day of talks.The 27 leaders have argued for two days over the scale and rules for the package, with the Netherlands leading a band of "frugal" allies in demanding lower budgets and tougher conditions for handouts.Arriving for what she said was probably the "decisive" day of the extraordinary summit, Merkel said there were still many divisions among the leaders."I still cant say whether a solution will be found," she said. "There is a lot of good will... but it may also be that no result will be achieved today."The veteran German leader joined French President Emmanuel Macron and the summit host, European Council President Charles Michel, to prepare a new offer to break the logjam after Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and his "Frugal Five" allies blocked a deal.The Dutch want member states to have a say over national bailouts to ensure countries carry out labour market reforms, while Austria, Finland, Denmark and Sweden want to see the up to 750-billion-euro package of loans and subsidies cut down.The "frugals" have resisted the pleas of Germany and France, traditionally the blocs most powerful members, to agree a plan to lift the countries hardest hit by the pandemic -- most notably Spain and Italy.Macron urged leaders to "take responsibility" as Europe grapples with a severe recession caused by the virus and its lockdowns, saying a deal could still be found."But these compromises cannot be made at the cost of European ambition," he warned."Not out of principle but because we are facing an unp...

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  EU leaders adopt landmark coronavirus rescue package

  European Council President Charles Michel speaks during a news conference following a four days European summit at the European Council in Brussels, Belgium on July 21, 2020. (Photo: AFP)EU leaders emerged from a marathon four-day and four-night summit Tuesday to celebrate what they boasted was a historic rescue plan for economies left shattered by the coronavirus epidemic.The 750-billion-euro ($858-billion) deal was sealed after intense negotiation that saw a threats of a French walkout and a Hungarian veto -- and fierce opposition from the Netherlands and Austria to too generous a package."These were of course, difficult negotiations in very difficult times for all Europeans," EU Council Chief Charles Michel, whose job was to guide the tortuous talks over more than 90 hours.He dubbed the summit "a marathon which ended in success for all 27 member states, but especially for the people."The package, seen by AFP, was made possible by the crucial backing of Germany and France and includes the biggest ever joint borrowing by the 27 members of the bloc, something that had been resisted by Berlin and the so-called "frugal" northern states for generations.The deal is a special victory for French President Emmanuel Macron who came to office in 2017 committed to strengthen the European Union, but had struggled to deliver against member states with less ambition for the seven-decade-old EU project."This is a historic change for Europe," Macron told reporters in a joint press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, speaking of her relief that Europe had, in her eyes, shown itself equal to "The greatest crisis in the history of the European Union."- Frugals fight -The package will send tens of billions of euros to countries hardest hit by the virus, most notably heavily indebted Spain and Italy that had lobbied hard for a major gesture from their EU partners.Their call for solidarity was met with ...