In a statement released on Saturday, Ursula von der Leyen announced that the EU Commission will revise its proposal for the EU27 bloc’s long-term budget, to deal with the Covid-19 emergency.
“To ensure recovery, the Commission will propose changes in the MFF (Multiannual Financial Framework) proposal that will allow to address the fallout of the coronavirus crisis,” von der Leyen said. She also added that a stimulus package will be included in the renewed proposal “to ensure cohesion within the Union.”
As several member states have been asking for temporary eurobonds for COVID-19, namely “Corona bonds”, von der Leyen did not specify whether or not this scenario is on the table.
“At this juncture, the President is not excluding any options within the limits of the treaty,” the statement reads.
Divisions were already deep among member-states on the Union’s Multiannual Financial Framework for 2021-2027, as EU leaders disagreed both on the percentage of national contribution and on the priorities of their long-term budget, during February’s emergency summit.