Angela Merkel is wearing a mask as she arrives in Brussels the rain in front of the European Parliament. Only to Talk – with the welcome address by the Italian President of Parliament, David Sassoli and later in the Parliament plenary, the Chancellor of your face for protection. The mask is the ever-present reminder that the German presidency of the EU, which Merkel visits Parliament, completely by the Corona-pandemic dominated will be.
Werner Mussler
economic correspondent in Brussels.
F. A. Z.
It is Merkel’s first visit abroad since the Corona onset. That it leads to Brussels, is due to the German EU presidency in the second half of the year 2020 is inevitable. The Tradition wants it that the head of government of the respective presidency country, discussed with the European Parliament on its programme. What else is usually boring Routine, this time due to Corona and the associated plans for a “reconstruction Fund” to be explosive. Merkel is expected to contribute, if possible at the EU summit in the coming week for a “Deal” in which the Fund and, therefore, the medium-term EU budget for the years up to 2027 will be decided.
In Sassolis in Italian oral and welcome the Chancellor, the words “Solidarità” and “Leadership”, even without knowledge of Italian to understand. Germany had very well understood the importance of the crisis, the solidarity with the other member States is, says Sassoli with views of Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron proposed Fund. “Let us work together for a truly European reconstruction work.”
