- Title: Differences remain among EU states on recovery fund, budget - Merkel
- Date: 13th July 2020
- Summary: MESEBERG, GERMANY (JULY 13, 2020) (CORONAPOOL) GERMAN CHANCELLOR ANGELA MERKEL AND ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER GIUSEPPE CONTE ENTER PRESS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN CHANCELLOR ANGELA MERKEL, SAYING: "Now we haven an even more complex task at hand - the financial planning for European member states for the next years. And decide, uno acto, to use those words, a recovery fund for everybody and therefore the next generation EU programme. And we both support this task. Of course we will add our national interests to the proposals of Jean Michel. But Germany and Italy are happy with the basic foundation of the fund." MERKEL AND CONTE AT PRESS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN CHANCELLOR ANGELA MERKEL, SAYING: "On Friday (EU summit) we will discuss this (EU recovery fund proposal) and how to reach to a common ground. The positions are still far apart. I can't tell you now whether we will find a solution on Friday or Saturday. But it would be very good for Europe." MERKEL AND CONTE AT PRESS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER GIUSEPPE CONTE, SAYING: --ACCORDING TO OFFICIAL TRANSLATION-- "italy is in favour to introduce clear tests for transparency. In a European framework of solidarity for each other it is not about spending the money on our own whims. Discretion is important. But now enforced one. We are already working on a recovery plan and we want such a recovery plan to be accepted by the European institutions. And then it is important to have a constant monitoring. That is a challenge that we will accept." MERKEL AND CONTE AT PRESS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN CHANCELLOR ANGELA MERKEL, SAYING: "I don't know whether there will be an agreement. And it does not matter what percentage wants what. There is still a long way ahead of us. But I must make clear that what we want now, the recovery fund or the next generation EU programme, it has to be staggering, something special. And not dwarfed. Because the task at hand is huge, and therefore the answer has to be big as well." MERKEL AND CONTE AT PRESS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN CHANCELLOR ANGELA MERKEL, SAYING: "And again, there are still some bridges to be built. Literally. We are not there yet. That's why I've said that I don't know whether one meeting will be enough, or whether we need to meet a second time before the end of the summit. I would prefer it only being once meeting. But we have to wait and see. But I see no problems with the Italian negotiation." (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER GIUSEPPE CONTE, SAYING: --ACCORDING TO OFFICIAL TRANSLATION-- "We have to make sure that Europe does not split in north and south, east and west. That must not happen. And we talk about bridges - I sometimes thing we should not need bridges in a interior market, in a system like Schengen where we have introduced the freedom of movement and goods. We need to implement our national interest, yes. But now by giving up our common values. So rather that bridges we maybe should built highways." END OF PRESSER
- Embargoed: 27th July 2020 17:56
- Keywords: EU German Chancellor Angela Merkel Italian Prime minister Giuseppe Conte coronavirus crisis recovery fund
- Location: MESEBERG, GERMANY
- City: MESEBERG, GERMANY
- Country: Germany
- Topics: European Union,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001CMN7N7R
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Monday she could not guarantee that EU member states would reach an agreement on a coronavirus recovery fund and a multi-year budget at a leaders summit this week given that differences remain.
"The positions remain apart," Merkel said during a news conference with Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte. "I can't say today whether we will reach an agreement on Friday."
She added that Italy and Germany agreed on the basic structure of the EU proposals.
Conte said that the EU member states must work hard to avoiding splitting the union in north and south, east and west. "I sometimes think we should not need bridges in an interior market, in a system like Schengen where we have introduced the freedom of movement and goods. We need to implement our national interest, yes. But now by giving up our common values. So rather than bridges we maybe should built highways," the Italian premier said.
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