EU leaders discuss recovery from pandemic; 750 bn euros stimulus not soon

Officials have warned that another summit later this month could be needed to clinch a deal

German Chancellor Angela Merkel raised doubts that European Union leaders, meeting in person for the first time in five months, would be able to agree this week on a landmark 750 billion euros ($855 billion) recovery fund to help their economies heal from the pandemic.

“We’re entering these discussions with plenty of vigor, but I have to say that the differences remain very, very great, so I can’t predict whether we’ll reach an agreement here,” Merkel said in Brussels before the start of the summit. “I expect very, very difficult negotiations.”

Their meeting comes after weeks of intense negotiations between diplomats and