Leaders of EU countries on Friday gathered in the online summit — perhaps the last. Next meeting in July, scheduled to take place internally. Despite the specificity of communication in conferencing, objections to renewal for another six months economic sanctions against Russia, the heads of States and governments arose. But to agree on an ambitious programme to restore the EU economy to the tune of €750 billion so far failed.On Friday, the leaders of the countries of the EU extended for another six months the sectoral economic sanctions against Russia. The decision was made during the discussion on the online EU summit. The President of France Emmanuel macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, representatives of the countries participating in the “Normandy format”, informed the colleagues about the implementation of the Minsk agreements for Donbass. But this is a purely formal requirement: no progress to speak of. “The leaders were informed about the implementation of the Minsk agreements. This means that now the Council could extend the sanctions”,— confirmed by the results of the meeting, the President of the European Council Charles Michel.That the sanctions will be extended, no doubt in Moscow as well. “They are renewed regularly, every six months, and nothing new in this. The prospects of repeal, shall we say, more than a vague,” said yesterday the Director of Department of European cooperation Ministry of foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Nikolai Kobrinets.According to the diplomat, Russia “learned to live” under sanctions, “though it’s probably hard, and largely harms the Russian economy”.Where the big intrigue was connected with the discussion of the package of financial measures for the recovery of the European economy after the pandemic coronavirus. At the end of may, the European Commission has proposed to create a trust Fund, “the EU’s new generation” in the amount of €750 billion While we are not talking about that country’s “chipped” into the common pot. The plan of the European Commission these funds will take on the international financial markets under the guarantee of the EU and guide members in the form of grants and loans for economic recovery in 2021-2027 and project financing in various industries, including alternative energy, transport, digital economy. According to the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, if the plan is approved, “the financial power of the EU budget for 2021-2027 years will rise to €1,85 trillion”. By the way, the budget plan for the coming years, whose approval traditionally is difficult, were also presented to the leaders this Friday.”The Council has done a great job to help prepare the soil and to give all delegations a clear idea about the various parts of a sentence. It’s time for the members of the European Council to discuss the details of this package”,— assured the President of the European Council, former Prime Minister of Belgium Charles MiXel. And yet the plan is clear not all. “The European Parliament will not go on the agreement until, until there is total clarity on sources of funding. We will have a big debt to future generations. We must clearly understand how the debt will be paid, and that when it is proposed to impose taxes,” warned the President of the European Parliament David Sassòli.The first discussion at a high level only exposed the contradictions. “They want to maximize the envelope that will receive and minimise your contribution”— summed up the dissenting position by Mr. Michel. According to Reuters, to protest against certain proposals were made by countries in Eastern Europe led by Poland. In the end, although Ms. von der Leyen and assured that “all the leaders have reaffirmed the need for this tool”, to coordinate the recovery Fund has failed.First, the leaders will try to take key decisions before the summer holidays. Secondly, from July, the EU presidency for six months goes to Germany — and the achievement of a clear financial arrangements with partners may be the first victory of Chancellor Angela Merkel.Galina Dudina
