on Friday and Saturday, July 17-18, held the first face-to-face summit of heads of EU countries after the coronavirus. To make it had in terms of increased caution because of the risk of infection by coronavirus. In addition, this meeting of European leaders, a priori, can be called one of the busiest in the entire existence of the European Union. Leaders of a United Europe must adopt a plan for European economic recovery. At the moment there are at least two countries that strongly agree with proposals by Angela Merkel.
On the seventeenth of July, falls the birthday of two European leaders: 66 years anniversary of the German Chancellor Angela Merkel and 58 – Portuguese Prime Minister antónio da Costa. In such day it would be possible to have a little celebration and to congratulate the worthy leaders of Portugal and Germany, however, the heads of all States of the European Union gathered in Brussels for this. They have a difficult task – to plan the recovery of the European economy after the coronavirus.
This summit different from all others. Not only the fact that the decisions taken at it will change the face of Europe for many years to come, and the fact that the heads of state are forced to negotiate in a state of strict epidemiological restrictions.
all the leaders of the medical mask. Handshake, a friendly Pat on the shoulder, kisses on the cheek when they met – at least not welcome. Now, instead, adopted a restrained nod of the head, high light impacts each other shoulder to shoulder or become fashionable during a pandemic, “novobogat”.
in addition, changes were made and the participants of the summit if the heads of state came and their advisors, now the meeting is held in the narrow format. On the summit was not admitted neither journalists, nor the assistants, the negotiations are in a proprietary format – and not only for reasons of security.
“the Overall picture is that we are faced with the biggest economic depression since the Second world war. Maybe some compromises will be needed, but we need an ambitious decision because our citizens do not expect from us nothing less,” said the Prime Minister of Greece Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
the Head of Greece very evasively described the situation that has developed in the talks between the heads of the European Union. In fact, the leaders of the European Union immediately recognized that they are far from reaching agreement on an unprecedented EU budget in the amount of 1.85 trillion euros. This agreement has two key problems.
the First problem is the question of which country how to invest in the European recovery. Germany led by Angela Merkel plans to allocate a significant amount to re-launch the EU economy, but she expects other wealthy countries will contribute to the common cause.
It causes obvious displeasure the leaders of the rich North countries, which understand that they will donate significant amount to the recovery of the European Union, but their country will receive much less due to the fact that their economy is initially more powerful, but because they were not in such distress due to the coronavirus.
the Actual voice of these countries became Dutch Prime Minister mark Rutte. He openly stated that he doesn’t like the idea of Angela Merkel to give grants to poor countries of southern Europe. He stated that the Netherlands will not retreat from its line on a fair budget. Rutte has promised to avoid that the poorest countries had the advantage just because they can’t meet their loan obligations. This position Mark Rutte threatens the entire prospect of creating a single Fund Europe’s recovery.
the Second problem is more tied to ideology than Economics – the leaders of major European countries want to include in the documents the paragraphs that funds will be allocated only to those countries which respect democratic principles. This item does not suit just two countries: Hungary and Poland. Both these States are long-standing conflict with Brussels in relation to domestic policy. European leaders like to call the regimes of Viktor Orban and Andrzej Duda “authoritarian”, the head of Hungary and Poland in response accused European officials of meddling in their internal Affairs.
Orban and Duda understands that rhetoric about the protection of democratic principles can be a great way to leverage their country. That is why they strongly oppose this item. Obran even threatened to veto the entire document if there will be a stated communication of respect for democratic rights with the allocation of funds. “The Hungarian position is clear: the Hungarians should decide on the money of the Hungarians” – said the nationalist Orban.
the first And the second problem are of fundamental roots in various European interests. In such a situation to find a compromise will be very difficult. “The differences are still very great, so I can’t predict, will we achieve a result this time. Therefore, I expect a very, very difficult negotiations,” said German Chancellor Angela Merkel. To agree would indeed be very difficult. But need to agree – the collapse of the agreement could lead to a collapse of the entire European Union project.
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