Economics
Euro-Area Governments Set Out Competing Plans for Virus Aid
- French and Dutch make proposals ahead of decision by ministers
- Criticism of divided and slow response to crisis is dogging EU
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European Union countries set out competing visions of how to deal with the economic consequences of the coronavirus pandemic as the bloc continued its struggle for a united response.
A week after a video conference of all 27 EU leaders ended in acrimony and recrimination, euro-area governments are still at odds over how to cushion the economic impact of the virus, especially in those countries worst hit such as Italy and Spain. France and the Netherlands, at opposing ends of the argument, put forward their own ideas on Wednesday, while the European Commission unveiled a plan for loans to prevent unemployment.