On the agenda for today's meeting was, among other things, what EU countries can do together to strengthen the internal market, what an economic aid fund should look like and what the EU should do to support other affected countries, including in the local area and in Africa.

EU Permanent Council President Charles Michel confirmed on Thursday evening that leaders agreed on the need for a new fund to meet the economic impact of the crisis.

- We agree to work for a recovery fund. It should be of sufficient size, says Charles Michel.

Dividing lines between north and south

According to diplomatic sources that Reuters spoke to, the mood between EU leaders should be better than they were when the issue was discussed a month ago. However, as before, there was a clear dividing line between the member states.

A number of countries in northern Europe, including Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands and Austria oppose recovery in the form of grants. Instead, they want to link the recovery fund to the EU's next long-term budget.

No to bonds

Italy has proposed that the EU issue common corona bonds. Among other things, it says no to Germany.

"It would require a very difficult process, take time and would not help anyone in this situation, because we need quick tools to deal with the crisis," Chancellor Angela Merkel told German Bundestag ahead of the summit.

Stefan Löfven is also totally against such bonds.

- That countries fully guarantee each other's debts is not in line with the EU treaty, he says.

Loan guarantees in the EU budget, on the other hand, are considered to pose less risk than common bonds and are therefore easier to accept.