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02 July 2020 "Achieving a swift and ambitious agreement on the European recovery plan is the top priority of the European Union for the coming weeks". The President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen wrote in a note, who announced that she had "invited David Sassoli, President of the European Parliament, Angela Merkel, German Chancellor and Charles Michel, President of the European Council, to a meeting July 8 to take stock of progress and prepare for the intense political negotiations ahead of us. ""The proposal of the EU Commission not only aims to overcome the crisis, but also focuses on the tasks of the future of the EU, such as climate protection, the green deal, the issue of digitization, and the holding of society". So Angela Merkel in the video press conference with von der Leyen. Merkel reiterated that "Europe is in the most difficult situation in its history". "The virus has not disappeared - he said about the pandemic -. We have learned better to live with it, but with restrictions".
The Brexit knot
Germany has "interest now as before" in an agreement on Brexit, but must also "prepare" for the scenario of a failed agreement. "I want to clearly reiterate - von der Leyen replies - that we want to work on an agreement" with the United Kingdom "but not at any price" and "today we are still far from having a common denominator" and "we must prepare for any result". "We want to negotiate fair conditions for our businesses and the integrity of our internal market" and "we will have to work at full speed with the German EU presidency."
Merkel: working by agreement by July
Then, regarding the negotiation in Europe on the Recovery fund and the multiannual framework of the budget , the chancellor reiterated: "There must be an agreement for this summer anyway, I can't imagine another variant". Merkel stressed that she was flying to Brussels on July 17 to reach an agreement in July, "but if it is not there we must continue working". "Everyone knows - he added - that the response to this crisis must also be a powerful response, which is capable of moving something" and having effects on the psychological aspect of the economy. And everyone knows that an agreement in July would be better, "stressing that the" negotiations will be complex.
"" We had an unprecedented crisis that requires unprecedented response and the thing I find positive is that we have seen that there is a Council in the Council complete unanimity precisely on this ", replied the president von der Leyen, adding:" There is unanimity in the approach that concerns the Next generation Eu - he added -. Of course, there are still many details to be negotiated, on the size, on loans and grants, and this is out of the question. "
Travel risk but responsible EU approach
With the summer travel season" we face risks, but European countries have taken careful health protocols "and the approach to the pandemic in the Schengen area" is responsible, "said Angela Merkel, answering a question." We observe the situation every day, "he also said," we have local outbreaks that worry us, but I have the impression that we are able to contain them, thanks to the measures of the local authorities. And so it must remain. "