Merkel lays out priorities for EU council presidency – McGuinness

The German Chancellor Angela Merkel told the European Parliament today that Germany will focus on five priorities during its six-month presidency of the council of the European Union.

Mrs Merkel said Germany will concentrate on fundamental rights, cohesion, climate protection, digitalisation and Europe’s responsibility in the world.

She said her visit today comes at a time when the EU is facing its greatest challenge ever with the global pandemic hitting people hard. She told MEPs over one hundred thousand (100,000) lives were lost in Europe alone due to the pandemic.   

The Fine Gael MEP Mairead McGuinness says Mrs Merkel has the leadership qualities to persuade reluctant EU countries to sign up to the massive EU COVID recovery plan and other EU budgetary issues.

Out words: to go 

Dur: 00:31