Merkel cancels November EU summit in Berlin over virus outbreak

Oct 17, 2020 10:55 AM PHT

Agence France-Presse

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Merkel cancels November EU summit in Berlin over virus outbreak

ANGELA MERKEL. Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel removes her face mask prior to giving a press conference at the end of a face-to-face European Union (EU) summit at the European Council Building in Brussels, on October 16, 2020. Photo by Kenzo Tribouillard/AFP

AFP

'In the context of the pandemic, we have made it clear that we will not allow the informal summit to take place. We must do without it,' Merkel tells reporters after a summit in Brussels

German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday, October 16, cancelled a November 26 EU leaders’ summit in Berlin that was to have discussed relations with China due to the coronavirus.

“In the context of the pandemic, we have made it clear that we will not allow the informal summit to take place. We must do without it,” Merkel told reporters after a summit in Brussels.

Germany, which holds the EU’s rotating presidency, called the meeting as the 27 member states struggle to unite behind a more assertive stance towards Beijing, with increasing worries over human rights and unfair trade.

Berlin is especially eager to clinch a EU-China investment deal by the end of the year and the summit would have helped unite the European position.

China says a deal can be agreed this year, but EU officials insist they will not accept unfavorable terms simply to conclude the talks. – Rappler.com