Coronavirus, Sassoli: "On the recovery fund you have to start on the right foot"

2020-06-19T10:30:17.260Z

  What is put on the table by the EU Commission is "an ambitious proposal" for the relaunch of the EU, "which for us represents the minimum starting point. We will not accept any step backwards". So the President of the European Parliament, David Sassoli, speaking at the opening of the videoconference of the European heads of state and government. "Taking action only with loans would have asymmetrical consequences on the debt of individual Member States and would be more expensive for the Union as a whole," he stressed. The European Parliament "will insist on an ambitious, comprehensive and comprehensive agreement, in line with the joint commitments made in the Political Declaration" approved by the leaders in 2019. "We believe this is the best possible result for both sides and despite the short time available, with good will and determination is still achievable ". According to the President of the European Parliament, the Commission's proposal is "ambitious and represents the minimum starting point: we will not accept any step backwards. We believe that some improvements can still be made, so as to ensure that the fundamental decisions that we will take will benefit the citizens. Nobody should be left behind. " Sassoli reiterated that the common debt with which the EU will finance the response to the crisis "must be paid back fairly without leaving the burden on future generations. And we can do it by focusing on growth and development. Intervening only with loans would have asymmetrical consequences on the debt of individual Member States and it would be more expensive for the Union as a whole. We now have the opportunity to reshape Europe and make it fairer, greener and more forward-looking. To this end we must seize this opportunity to introduce a basket of new own resources, "he added. 'Time is a luxury that we cannot afford: we must act urgently and courageously, because the citizens, businesses and economies of the Union need an immediate response. Citizens expect courageous action. And we must meet their expectations ". An agreement is not expected today given the differences on one and the other. The expectation is that the heads of state and government will send EU President Charles Michel to approach positions with compromise proposals. A new summit is planned for 9 or 10 July and perhaps a third will be needed shortly thereafter. But they will be "physical" meetings in Brussels: the heads of governments have declared themselves unable to deal with such complex topics by videoconference (when they promote teleworking in their own countries). On Brexit: ambitious agreement still feasible "There is no possibility, but not even any reason, to renegotiate or call into question the Declaration - he continued -. We must be optimistic, but also realistic and be ready for a possible" No Deal " ".