Sweden after seven hours of negotiations on corona support: "We are far apart"

This is the first time since February that the heads of state and government of the 27 member states have met physically to discuss.

What they are discussing is a proposal for a long-term budget for the years 2021 to 2027 of 1,074 billion euros, combined with a special support for corona-affected countries and activities of another 750 billion.

The Heads of State and Government discuss whether the support for recovery should be in the form of loans or grants, who should receive support, how large the support should be and how long it should be paid out.

- These are difficult questions. We are far apart, says State Secretary Paula Carvalho Olovsson to Aktuellt after seven hours of negotiations on Friday.

Sweden is one of the most negative to the proposal. Löfven has joined forces with Denmark, Austria and the Netherlands with demands to cut the budget and turn corona support into loans, rather than grants. 

Sweden has demanded that the aid be given as a loan, not as a grant. How's it going on that front?

- It is still important for us. It is a crucial issue that I expect they will continue to discuss sometime in the evening and perhaps at night, says State Secretary Paula Carvalho Olovsson and continues:

- There are very many who think that there should be grants as well, so it is difficult.

The Swedish EU fee would increase by around ten billion kronor a year, if the compromise proposal that is now on the table were to go through.