Eurotopics.net

After a four-day negotiation marathon the EU summit produced a result: of the 750 billion euros allocated to coronavirus recovery schemes, only 390 instead of the initially proposed 500 billion are to be distributed in the form of grants, while the rest will be paid out in loans. Moreover, payments from the EU budget will continue to be only loosely subject to adherence to rule-of-law criteria. But behind all the compromises commentators make out some clear decisions.

After months of downplaying the threat posed by coronavirus, President Trump has now called on the US population to wear masks. At a press conference, he encouraged people to use a protective face mask in situations where distancing rules cannot be observed. What has prompted this sudden change of heart?

Following Tuesday's historic agreement on a budget and financial aid package, the focus is now on the compromises made to secure a deal: of the 750 billion euros for coronavirus recovery schemes, only 390 instead of the initially proposed 500 billion will be distributed in the form of grants, while the rest takes the form of loans. Payments from the EU budget will continue to be only loosely subject to adherence to reforms and rule-of-law criteria. Is the price of this agreement too high?

The 750-billion-euro recovery package is a historic achievement: for the first time in its history the EU has put together a debt-financed stimulus package to counter the pandemic-induced recession. Tens of billions of euros will now flow into the coffers of individual member states. However, the joy of many commentators over a unique opportunity for a fresh start is mixed with marked scepticism in some countries.

The report by the British parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee on Russian interference in the 2016 Brexit referendum was published in London on Monday. To what extent Russia influenced the result remains unclear, but the report takes the British government to task, concluding that it failed to act on the suspicions of interference. Commentators are incensed.