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After two days of intense negotiations on the next multiannual budget, the European leaders meeting in Brussels left this Friday evening without agreement. Appointment has been given for an upcoming summit.
From our special correspondent in Brussels,
” The differences were too great. There is still a lot of work “Said German Chancellor Angela Merkel after two days of negotiations. Despite the agreement displayed with Emmanuel Macron, especially on the Syrian file, the divisions were striking on the next multi-annual European budget. Paris opposes Berlin on the issue of discounts applied to states that pay more than they touch from Europe – this is the case of Germany.
But it was the four “frugal” countries (Sweden, the Netherlands, Austria and Denmark) who most disagreed during this summit. They refused to pay more into the common pot despite all the efforts of Council President Charles Michel. Opposite, another offensive bloc made up of fifteen states led by Portugal was formed. These plead for a generous budget for cohesion funds.
If Charles Michel believed he could snatch a consensus text from the 27, reality ended up being imposed on him as on all. ” It is a very difficult subject. The negotiations are very hard. Especially with Brexit and the hole of 60 to 75 billion euros that this has generated. We have worked very hard to respond to concerns, to reconcile different interests and opinions. But we need more time! “
For Emmanuel Macron, failing to advance, the essential is safe, at least for the time being: the common agricultural policy (PAC) will also not be cropped. The French president will hasten to announce the news to farmers himself this Saturday at the opening of the Fair dedicated to them.
” We obtained first improvements on this aspect, to defend our peasants, welcomed the French president, before nuancing. But they are inconclusive, given the fact that we did not find an agreement. And they are, in our eyes, still insufficient. Dialogue and work must continue. There have been improvements, but they do not go all the way. “
On the other hand, thinking about new resources specific to the EU to help it no longer depend solely on the goodwill of the States remains fallow.
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