(07 April 2020) – Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have excluded European Parliament President David Sassoli from talks on the EU response to the coronavirus crisis, El Pais reported.
“The main community leaders held a second videoconference on the coronavirus crisis on Monday (6 April) with the notable absence of the President of the European Parliament, David Sassoli,” the Spanish daily reported.
“The leader of the only institution chosen by universal suffrage has been deliberately excluded once again from the forum in charge of preparing the roadmap for a comprehensive recovery plan […] Germany and the Netherlands lead the exclusion of Sassoli,” the newspaper added.
At the last EU Council, EU leaders asked the four presidents representing the Commission, Eurogroup, European Central Bank and EU Council to present informal proposals for a recovery plan. In normal circumstances, the discussion should be led by the five presidents, including Sassoli.
However, Spanish media reported last week that Merkel blocked the Italian’s participation amid fears that he would push for coronabonds, an option that Berlin fiercely opposes. (EurActiv)