European Union leaders face very tough talks over a proposed budget and recovery plan to lift the bloc from an economic crisis sparked by the coronavirus pandemic, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Friday, pointing to deep differences.

"We are all going into the talks with a lot of vigor but I must say that the differences are still very, very big and so I can't yet say whether we will get a solution this time already," Merkel said as she arrived at the summit.

"I expect very, very difficult negotiations." (Reuters)

Source: www.businessworld.ie