Video conference of the members of the European Council, 23 April 2020

Summary:

EU National leaders held a video conference on 23 April 2020 to discuss progress on the various dimensions of the European response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Further information:

Leaders welcomed the Roadmap aimed at a common approach to lifting containment measures, as well as the Joint Roadmap for Recovery. The heads of state/government endorsed the Eurogroup's plan aiming to provide immediate support to address the economic impact of the pandemic.

There was also agreement on the establishment of a Recovery Fund, providing the European Commission with the mandate to analyse the needs and come up with a proposal. This could be connected to the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2021-2027.

Leaders also expressed their solidarity with Cyprus regarding the illegal drilling activities by Turkey, recalled and reaffirmed their previous conclusions on the issue. Finally, leaders decided to hold a video conference with the countries of the Western Balkans region on 6 May 2020.

The outcome of this video conference was subject to a debate during the plenary session of the European Parliament on 13 May 2020.

Official

European Council: Press Release, 23/04/2020: Conclusions of the President of the European Council following the video conference of the members of the European Council, 23 April 2020 https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2020/04/23/conclusions-by-president-charles-michel-following-the-video-conference-with-members-of-the-european-council-on-23-april-2020/

European Commission: Statement by President von der Leyen at the joint press conference with President Michel, following the EU Leaders' videoconference on coronavirus of 23 April https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/statement_20_733

European Parliament: Press Release, 23/04/2020: Statement by European Parliament President David Sassoli, following his speech to the European Council https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20200421IPR77508/

European Council: Intervention by President Charles Michel at the European Parliament on the video conference of the members of the European Council of 23 April 2020 (13 May 2020) https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2020/05/13/intervention-at-the-european-parliament-on-the-video-conference-of-the-members-of-the-european-council-of-23-april-2020/

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News

BBC News, 23/04/2020: Coronavirus: Huge economic rescue plan agreed by EU leaders https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-52405458

EurActiv, 23/04/2020: Council seeks to narrow differences over COVID-19 recovery fund https://www.euractiv.com/section/economy-jobs/news/council-seeks-to-narrow-differences-over-covid-19-recovery-fund/

EurActiv, 23/04/2020: EU leaders agree plans for ‘unprecedented’ stimulus against pandemic https://www.euractiv.com/section/economy-jobs/news/eu-leaders-agree-plans-for-unprecedented-stimulus-against-pandemic/

EUObserver, 23/04/2020: EU corona recovery talks could drag into summer https://euobserver.com/coronavirus/148156

The Guardian, 23/04/2020: EU leaders clash over trillion-euro Covid-19 aid in online meeting https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/23/clashes-predicted-over-trillion-euro-covid-19-aid-as-eu-meets-online

The Independent, 24/03/2020: Coronavirus: EU moves towards trillion-euro recovery stimulus package https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/coronavirus-eu-economy-recovery-lockdown-stimulus-package-a9480996.html

Euronews, 24/04/2020: EU agrees massive aid package of immediate support for member states https://www.euronews.com/2020/04/23/eu-agrees-massive-aid-package-of-immediate-support-for-member-states

EurActiv, 24/04/2020: Questions remain over green aspects of EU recovery plan https://www.euractiv.com/section/energy-environment/news/questions-remain-over-green-aspects-of-eu-recovery-plan/

EUObserver, 24/04/2020: EU leaders back trillion-euro recovery plan https://euobserver.com/coronavirus/148166

Politico, 24/04/2020: EU leaders back budget reboot for coronavirus recovery https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-leaders-back-budget-reboot-for-coronavirus-recovery/

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Commentary and Analysis

Spiegel Online International, 20/04/2020: European Commissioner for Financial and Economic Affairs: "The EU Cannot Afford to Get Bogged Down in Past Discussions" https://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/european-commissioner-paolo-gentiloni-the-eu-cannot-afford-to-get-bogged-down-in-past-discussions-a-e7b3ef81-f7c0-498a-b9cf-937a5a06fba8

The Irish Times, 22/04/2020: EU summit: The players, proposals and what’s at stake https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/eu-summit-the-players-proposals-and-what-s-at-stake-1.4235066

Politico, 22/04/2020: Conte’s gamble https://www.politico.eu/article/giuseppe-conte-gamble-coronavirus-european-union-leaders/

The Guardian, 23/04/2020: How Covid-19 poured cold water on Netherlands' EU romance https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/23/how-covid-19-poured-cold-water-on-netherlands-eu-romance

LSE: EUROPP Blog, 24/04/2020: Covid-19: The struggle to agree an EU response https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2020/04/24/covid-19-the-struggle-to-agree-an-eu-response/

Deutsche Welle, 24/04/2020: EU puts positive spin on coronavirus rescue package disunity https://p.dw.com/p/3bLkF

Euro|topics, April 2020: Yes to billions in aid, no to coronabonds https://www.eurotopics.net/en/239409/

ECFR: Podcast, 24/04/2020: Stumbling into its moment of truth: the EU’s debate over its economic response to covid-19 https://www.ecfr.eu/podcasts/episode/stumbling_into_its_moment_of_truth_the_eus_debate_over_its_economic_respons

EPRS: Briefing, April 2020: Outcome of the European Council video-conference of 23 April 2020 https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_BRI(2020)642832

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