EU working out recovery plan
TABLED: COMMISSION PROPOSES RESCUE FUND
European states under pressure to look beyond borders.
Deeply divided European Union leaders yesterday started negotiating a post-coronavirus economic recovery plan, as the death toll from the pandemic soared past 450 000 and China raced to prevent a second wave.
China released genome data for the coronavirus found in a fresh outbreak in the capital, which state experts suggest share similarities with European strains.
Tens of thousands of people in Beijing are being tested for the virus while neighbourhoods have been locked down and schools closed as authorities seek to contain a cluster linked to a food market.
Another 25 cases were confirmed in Beijing, taking the total number of infections since last week to more than 180.
The resurgence came after China had largely brought the virus under control and eased restrictions on movement inside the country, where the illness was first detected in the city of Wuhan.
Meanwhile, a lockdown was reimposed on 15 million people in southern India as the number of coronavirus infections neared 400 000.
Almost 8.4 million cases have now been reported worldwide and the death toll passed 450 000 on Thursday.
Europe remains the hardest-hit continent, with more than 190 000 deaths from almost 2.5 million cases.
Many European countries began reopening this month after painful lockdowns that have saved lives but wearied confined populations – and devastated economies.
The EU faces the biggest recession in its 63-year history and states are under pressure to look beyond their own borders and to find ways to lift the continent.
On the table at yesterday’s virtual EU summit is a proposal from European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen for a €750 billion (T14.6 trillion) rescue fund that – if accepted – would mark a historic milestone for EU unity.
But opposition is fierce from countries known as the “frugal four” – The Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark and Austria – who have promised to fight to rein in the spending.
“It is clear that we expect no essential agreements at this summit,” said a German government official.
A French source called it a “warm-up round” that would “take the temperature” before leaders land a compromise in late July. – AFP