A short sentence that clashes, 48 hours after the smiles and hugs following the European relaunch agreement sealed after four days and four nights of negotiations. To obtain the agreement of the 27, the budget of the European Union was cut by 20 billion euros. A "pill difficult to swallow" for the President of the Commission, Ursula Von der Leyen.
"This stimulus plan is still a difficult pill to swallow"
"I started by saying that the European Council agreement brought light to the end of the tunnel. But with light also comes shadow. And in this case, the shadow comes in the form of a EU budget very meager in the long run, "she told the European Parliament. Before adding: "We must always remember that the final objective of this European project is more important than its blow. Yes we have managed to avoid even more important cuts as demanded by certain countries, but this plan of raise is still a tough pill to swallow and I know you are thinking the same as me. "
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However, Ursula Von der Leyen also noted that by adding the recovery plan and the multiannual budget (2021-2027), the EU had an "unprecedented financial strike force" of 1.8 trillion euros.
"A signal of confidence, robustness and solidity"
For his part, Council President Charles Michel defended the agreement and the EU's long-term budget, saying it was "a signal of confidence, robustness and soundness". And even congratulating itself that it allows Europeans to "renew for 30 years (their) marriage vows". "It is European unity that has been affirmed. Europe is present, Europe is solid, Europe is standing."