Understanding everything about the stimulus plan of 500 billion Macron and Merkel

• Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel proposed on Monday the creation of an "ambitious, temporary and targeted" European stimulus fund of 500 billion euros to help the EU overcome the historic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic
• This first step towards a European pooling of debt is "a historic turning point", welcomes LREM MEP Stéphane Séjourné.
• But this recovery plan is already raising questions and criticism.

A new plan for Europe. Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel proposed Monday the creation of an "ambitious, temporary and targeted" stimulus fund of 500 billion euros to help the European Union overcome the historic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic. "For the first time, together with Germany, what we are proposing to the 27 member countries of the EU is to raise a common debt on the markets," welcomed the French president.

For the first time together, with Germany, what we are proposing to the 27 member countries of the EU is to raise a common debt on the markets, to use 500 billion euros in aid to finance in priority sectors and regions most affected by the crisis. https://t.co/0IGaRLD5WB

After weeks of hesitation, even tension in Europe around the crisis linked to the epidemic, the Franco-German couple wishes to move forward. But this recovery plan is already raising questions and criticism.

Why is this recovery plan "historic"?

To limit the recession on the continent, Paris and Berlin want to create a fund of 500 billion euros as part of the next EU budget. The capitals propose that this envelope be financed by loans from the European Commission on the markets "on behalf of the EU", and not by the States themselves. “It is a historic turning point. For the first time, the Commission will raise debt and this money will be distributed to the sectors of activity and European regions most in difficulty, "welcomes LREM MEP Stéphane Séjourné.

"So these are not loans to states but real endowments," added the chairman of the French delegation of the Renew Europe group in the European Parliament. Clearly: countries will not have to directly reimburse the amounts collected. The reimbursement could be made from the budget of the European Union, financed by all the member states. It would be a first step towards a pooling of debt at European level, to which Berlin but also northern European countries have long been hostile.

A plan already highly criticized in Northern Europe

If this announcement aroused the enthusiasm of the countries of the South, Austria, Sweden, the Netherlands, or Denmark are much more reluctant. After consulting with his counterparts, Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said on Twitter that their position "has not changed". Officials in these countries have said they are ready to help with "loans and not grants", and do not want an increase in the EU budget, but a redistribution of its resources. A way to sweep away the debt pooling project, which has also been criticized in Germany.

Our position remains unchanged. We are ready to help most affected countries with loans. We expect the updated #MFF to reflect the new priorities rather than raising the ceiling.

"A Franco-German agreement principle still carries weight at the levelEuropean, so I think the hard part is done, "wants to believe Stéphane Séjourné. “We will then have to discuss all the modalities to have this agreement accepted and, on May 27, at the next summit, give a clear mandate to the president of the European Commission. "The Minister of the Economy, Bruno Le Maire, was however less enthusiastic this Tuesday:" It will be a difficult part, we must not hide it ".

An agreement welcomed in contrasting ways in France

Interviewed by France Info, MEP David Cormand notes a "symbolic first step in terms of volume", but the plan is according to him "far below what should be done". The boss of the PS, Olivier Faure, also welcomed this "step" in the pooling of debts.

Franco-German announcements are a good signal:
✅ € 500 billion in "real" money to invest post crisis
✅ relocation of industry, including healthcare, and investments to
Europe ✅ green deal
This deal = start of an offensive positioning for Europe https://t.co/5k6AnYFj22

Manuel Bompard is more skeptical. "We remain on a scheme of increasing debts, regrets the MEP La France insoumise. Admittedly, it is now European, but someone will have to pay it, it will be the Member States, in proportion to their participation in the European budget. The elected official pleads for a cancellation of these debts. "The text of the agreement also maintains that this aid will be subject to reform measures," he continues, "that is to say that budgetary restrictions will be requested in return for governments."

The European Commission will distribute the funds on the basis of criteria not yet known. But the aid will be conditioned on "a clear commitment by the states to follow sound economic policies and an ambitious reform program." It is the return of austerity plans. pic.twitter.com/pYCDVpAR0M

Marine Le Pen, for her part, denounced on Twitter "a federalist headlong rush": "We will lose even more sovereignty, pay even more for the EU, and maybe go tomorrow towards a European tax. "

Critics brushed aside by Stéphane Séjourné: “Some will always seek to criticize. But I do not think that we are far from asking governments to make budget cuts. The Commission has drawn the consequences of the 2008 crisis, which brought to power Salvini [boss of the Italian far-right party the League] in particular, "he said. “On the contrary, it is a Keynesian long-term investment plan. Now remains to have it validated by the 27 EU states.

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• Coronavirus
• Emmanuel Macron
• Covid 19
• Economy
• Europe
• Angela Merkel
• EU
• Debt