8 hours agoCuz: EU aid given to poor and poor
Periskopi(6 years ago)
(6 years ago)One of the four states seeking a change in the planned European Union fund for recovery after the pandemic, Austria, wants a larger portion of the aid to be shared for the bloc's poorest countries. So said Austrian Prime Minister Sebastian Kurz. Austria, Holland, Denmark and Sweden are among the contributors most [...]
Austria, Holland, Denmark and Sweden are among the biggest contributors to the European Union's budget, and are generally opposed to plans for large expenditures. Together, these countries rejected the idea that the plan for economic recovery would consist of grants and demanded that loans be lent only.
The European Commission, the EU executive body, has proposed a 750 billion-euro fund, with two-thirds of these assets donated as grants. European Union leaders are hoping to shape the details of this plan at a summit due Friday, and the Austrian Chancellor has acknowledged that he no longer fully opposes the grants, but will discuss a mixed package.
“Following Brussels' plan, Italy, Spain and Poland would benefit the most. But in the EU, we have countries that are considerably poorer. My logic of justice tells me: If we in the EU were to spend so much money, they would primarily have to go to the poorest of the poor”, he told the German newspaper “Frankfurter Legendine Sonntagitung”, not to mention any state.
According to the EU Office for Statistics, the poorest countries in the European Union, according to per capita income, are Latvia, Romania, Greece, Croatia and Bulgaria. Austria has close relations with Western Balkan countries, such as Croatia.
The Austrian Chancellor added that financial assistance should be provided on conditions, so that they are not used simply to meet budget shortages. According to him, tools should be used for green measures, digitalisation, and reform support.
