Leaders struggle to bridge divides on critical budget
BRUSSELS — European Union leaders acknowledged Friday they are about as far apart from reaching a deal on an unprecedented 1.85 trillion euro ($2.1 trillion) EU budget and virus recovery fund as the seating distance imposed upon them for health reasons at their summit.
“The differences are still very, very big and so I can’t predict whether we will achieve a result this time,” said German Chancellor Angela Merkel as she arrived at the Europa summit site. “So I expect very, very difficult negotiations.”
The challenges facing the 27 EU leaders are formidable. The bloc is suffering through the worst recession in its history and member states are fighting over who should pay the most to help other countries and which nations should get the most to turn around their battered economies.
As the summit got under way all leaders were wearing masks. The usual hugs, handshakes and kisses were replaced by friendly nods and elbow bumps. The jovial atmosphere was not expected to last long at what will likely be one of the most brutal and bruising summits of recent times. What is slated as a twoday meeting could go even longer, if necessary, to bridge the differences between leaders.
After addressing the leaders, European Parliament President David Sassoli said the stakes could not be higher and urged leaders to reach agreement as Europe is buffeted by the economic headwinds of the coronavirus crisis.
“Any postponement could trigger new storms and imperil the European scene. We know that forecasts are very negative,” he said. “If Europe does not decide, maybe a financial storm front could hit public finances and, therefore, it’s very important that there should be a decision, an agreement.”
French President Emmanuel Macron led the early negotiations, arriving Thursday and using the the presummit hours to meet with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, a stringent budget hardliner and considered one of the biggest obstacles to reaching a deal at the twoday meeting.
“I am not optimistic, but you never know. Nobody wants another meeting,” said Rutte.
Macron underscored the importance of the challenge. “The coming hours will be absolutely decisive,” he said. “It is our project Europe that is at stake.”
The urgency is such that the leaders have ended a string of coronavirusenforced videoconference summits and are meeting in person for the first time since the pandemic began its devastating sweep around the globe.
Since the pandemic struck, Merkel is seen as a steady leader for her country in the crisis and now that Germany holds the rotating sixmonth EU presidency her stature will be even greater at the summit. On top of that, she celebrated her 66th birthday on Friday.
The virus hit the EU headon and estimates are now that the economy of the 19 countries that use the euro currency will contract by 8.7% this year.