German Ambassador To EU: "No One Needs New Hurdles" To MFF

Michael Clauss, Germany's ambassador to the EU (an important position at present during Germany's presidency of the European Council) on the successful conclusion of the EU Budget negotiations: "Negotiations with the European Parliament took time, but we have finally made it – we have reached a political agreement on the last details of the EU's next long-term budget. This is a well-balanced EU budget package deal, which addresses the issues raised by the European Parliament while respecting the guidance received from the European Council in July. We are now in a position to take the next crucial steps in the process – submitting the different parts of the package to the member states and the Parliament for endorsement. Europe has been hit severely by the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic. We urgently need the recovery fund up and running in order to cushion the dire economic consequences of the pandemic. I hope that everyone understands the urgency of the situation and will now help to clear the way for the swift implementation of the EU Budget and recovery package – no one needs new hurdles and further delays."