Angela Merkel lays out vision to unify European Union in parliamentary address

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has called on the European Union to unite and emerge stronger from the greatest challenge it has ever faced — the coronavirus pandemic.
At the European Parliament in Brussels, Merkel laid out her vision for Germany’s council presidency, which will be dominated by economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. She welcomed the EU commission’s plan for a massive relief fund for struggling European economies. Merkel said member states would need to compromise to sign off on the joint recovery fund before next month’s summer recess. It’s the second time Germany has taken over the EU’s council presidency with Merkel as German chancellor.