EU ministers without agreement on economic aid during the pandemic

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - EU finance ministers did not reach an agreement in talks that lasted all night on additional support for the economies of member states affected by the coronavirus pandemic, and the presiding minister Mario Centeno suspended the talks until tomorrow, European media report.

"After 16 hours of talks, we are close to an agreement, but it has not yet been reached. I have suspended the talks and we will continue them tomorrow," Centeno said.

Finance ministers began their talks yesterday around 1:30 PM, and discussions lasted all night with numerous breaks, continuations, and bilateral negotiations in an effort to reach an agreement on a package of measures to help governments, companies, and individuals, Radio Free Europe reports.

We remind you that as the coronavirus spread from China to Italy, Austria, Spain, and other EU countries, the Union was criticized for not acting strongly enough in establishing a coordinated response to the virus, although health issues remain the responsibility of the member states, each within its own borders.

Over the past month, EU countries have tried to cooperate more closely as leaders have committed to better coordination in an effort to prevent human and economic suffering caused by the pandemic.