Merkel: pandemic, economy collapse challenges EU

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Thursday that the European Union must not be allowed to drift apart economically because of the coronavirus crisis, warning that political extremists would pounce on such a development.

A day before leaders of the EU's 27 countries hold a videoconference summit, Merkel pledged to push for an agreement as quickly as possible on a proposed recovery fund and on the bloc's regular budget for the coming years.

"The pandemic and the associated economic collapse is the greatest challenge in the history of Europe," Merkel told the German parliament.

"How Europe copes with it compared to other regions of the world will determine the prosperity of European citizens and the role of Europe in the world," she added.

She said that she ideally would like a decision before Europe's summer vacation, but Friday's summit will bring only a first exchange and decisions can be made only at an in-person meeting.

The European Union last month proposed a 750 billion-euro (825 billion US dollars) recovery fund to help countries weather a painful recession triggered by the coronavirus,