Visegrad 4 leaders welcome EU recovery fund

The prime ministers of four Central European countries have welcomed an EU plan to create a 750 billion-euro (825 billion US dollar) recovery fund to help countries weather a painful recession triggered by the coronavirus.

But the leaders of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia say the fund should be distributed differently than proposed.

The countries hardest hit by the pandemic, including Italy and Spain, are expected to receive the biggest sums from the fund.

The four countries who form an informal group known as Visegrad Four have so far been hit less hard by the outbreak.

"It should not happen that some countries would be disadvantaged only because they coped well with the (coronavirus) crisis," said Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis who hosted their meeting in the town of Lednice.

His Polish counterpart Mateusz Morawiecki said it wouldn't be fair if the poorer countries were harmed.

Viktor Orban of Hungary added it would be "morally unacceptable" for richer countries to receive more.

Slovakia's Premier Igor Matovic said his country didn't have a major problem with the plan and wanted to show solidarity with their regional partners.

Tough negotiations are expected next week when EU leaders are planning to discuss the issue.