国际英语资讯:EU commission chief defends recovery package in German newspaper op-ed_时事

国际英语资讯:EU commission chief defends recovery package in German newspaper op-ed

BRUSSELS, July 29 -- The recent decision made by leaders of the 27 European Union (EU) member states to endorse a historic recovery package shows Europe's unique strength to invest in a common future, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Wednesday in an op-ed carried by the German newspaper Handelsblatt.

Last week following marathon talks in Brussels, the heads of state and government of the EU members reached an agreement on the bloc's long-term budget worth 1.0743 trillion euros (1.27 trillion U.S. dollars) in conjunction with a 750 billion-euro economic recovery package to help the bloc bounce back from the pandemic-induced recession.

Speaking to German readers via the newspaper, von der Leyen stressed that the deal was "historic," in terms of the size of the recovery package, the way the money will be raised, and how the money will be repaid.

"In past crises, the better off survived while the most vulnerable paid a heavy price. But this time it has to be different. This time we can only get back to our feet if we all pull each other up," von der Leyen wrote, according to an English translation of the op-ed posted on the Commission's website.

Von der Leyen explained that part of the recovery funds will be distributed in grants to member states to finance crucial reforms and investment, which will be tailored to what each country needs and be in line with wider European goals, especially those of the Green Deal.