Coronavirus: a crucial European summit to revive the economy

The 27 meet up on Thursday 23 April for a new European videoconference council, devoted to economic recovery. REUTERS / Thierry Roge

Text by: RFI Follow

It is the 4th virtual meeting since the start of the health crisis. European leaders are looking for solutions to get the EU out of the recession caused by the coronavirus pandemic. But again we do not expect a detailed and concrete result.

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I expect a first consensus  ". The most optimistic words among the 27 are from Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. Madrid is pushing for the creation of a 1,500 billion euro fund, a fund fed by a so-called perpetual debt to help the countries most in difficulty.

Debt with an indefinite duration, this principle, Germany, the Netherlands in particular, do not want to accept it. As for the amount, the amount circulating is much lower: several hundred billion euros. Again we find in any case the Rome-Madrid-Paris axis on the principle of common debt, whatever its form, again with little chance of convincing.

Among the ideas that are also circulating in the entourage of Emmanuel Macron, a first: a debt endorsed by the European Commission.

Another point of disagreement: the climate. Paris is vigilant on this subject. Others, such as many countries in the East, want to avoid aid conditional on respecting the environment.

As a sign that white smoke is not yet this time: no one is considering a joint declaration at the end of the meeting. At the Élysée, we don't wait for an agreement anyway before the summer.

Read also: Coronavirus: the European Union proposes coordination of deconfinement

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