France and Germany proposed Monday, in a joint statement, that the European recovery plan be endowed with 500 billion euros in budgetary spending for the bloc countries most affected by the coronavirus epidemic which has almost paralyzed the economic activity of the continent.
Read also: The Germans do not want to pay the debts of Europe
Paris and Berlin propose that this fund, currently under discussion in Brussels, be " endowed with 500 billion euros in EU budgetary expenditure for the sectors and regions most affected, on the basis of the EU budgetary programs and respecting European priorities ”, can we read in the joint declaration published following an exchange between Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel.
" It will strengthen the resilience, convergence and competitiveness of European economies, and increase investment, particularly in ecological and digital transitions and in research and innovation, " the text said. “ The funding from the Recovery Fund will be targeted at the difficulties linked to the pandemic and its repercussions. " It will be an exceptional supplement, integrated into the decision on own resources, with a clearly specified volume and expiration date, and which will be linked to a binding repayment plan beyond the next MFF on the EU budget , "add the two countries.