EU leaders mull COVID-19 recovery plan but divisions remain

European Union leaders gather via videoconference on Friday to discuss in detail a bloc-wide plan to help countries through the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic — likely to send the EU into its worst ever recession — but splits between states remain and the meeting is expected to be at best a “stepping stone” towards an eventual deal.

A 750-billion-euro post-COVID19 recovery plan proposed in May, as well as the latest Multiannual Financial Framework, the EU’s seven-year budget, will be discussed at leadership level for the first time, European Council President Charles Michel said in a statement ahead of the meeting, adding that while he hoped to reach consensus as soon as possible a deal was not imminent.

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