Negotiations start at 10. The latest compromise proposal is on the table: a total of EUR 750 billion in corona support, consisting of 500 billion in grants and 250 billion in loans, as well as the EU's next 7-year budget of 1,074 billion euros. The meeting begins with everyone telling what they think about the proposal and already there several stumbling blocks will appear clearly, here we list three bumblebees.

The size

Several countries in the north, including Sweden, think that both the budget and the rescue package are too large. While the countries in the south, such as Spain and Italy, on the contrary want more of everything. To meet the countries in the north, the budget has been reduced by 26 billion in the compromise proposal, but at the same time, to the annoyance of the same countries, the share of research and innovation in the budget has been reduced in favor of agricultural support. Sweden thinks it's a shame, but if you have to choose, our politicians think that a slimmed-down budget goes before everything else, every day of the week.

Grants or loans

Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands and Austria, the so-called frugal (frugal) four, do not want the rescue package to consist of grants but only favorable loans. Against them, they have 23 member countries, ie everyone else. Difficult case for the frugal, the compromise proposal did not move a millimeter in their favor, showing where it is barking.

Conditional money

According to the proposal, budget support must be conditional, so-called conditionality. Money should not be paid out for projects that contravene, for example, the principles of the rule of law or counteract a green transition. The countries in the east generally disapprove of the political control of support money. But the one who reacts most strongly is the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Not only does he want to get rid of the conditionality, Hungary also threatens with a veto if the EU does not end the ongoing investigation of the country's violation of the rule of law. Aggressive negotiation tactics or real threat? It remains to be seen.

Now the chairman of the council, Charles Michel, has the weekend to get his wills together. The good news is that all leaders think it is important to get a budget and rescue package in port and preferably quickly. Few believe that the leaders will succeed in agreeing before Sunday, at least one more meeting will probably be needed later in July. But swearing is always best.