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Tehran 3 July_Germany will hold the rotating presidency of the European Union for the next six months having taken up the mantle from Croatia. At a press conference to mark the occasion on Thursday questions were raised about a possible second wave of COVID-19 in the bloc.
In the meantime EU leaders are failing to agree on the terms of a €750bn recovery plan as the coronavirus economic crisis takes hold. Heads of government are being urged to reach a deal without delay.
At the press conference Von der Leyen described relations with China as complicated. The US is attempting to pile pressure on Beijing. Experts warn against any Western moves to destabilise China's huge economy.
Regarding the Brexit process, Merkel told journalists the EU must prepare for the worst case scenario, that being Britain walking away without a trade deal. Both Merkel and Von der Leyen agree the next six months will be make or break for the EU.
A huge component of that relates to whether eurosceptic Donald Trump wins a second term in November. In the European Parliament legislators are warning dangerous, nationalist politicians in the West will continue to gain ground if the COVID-19 social crisis is not managed.
Some EU lawmakers have expressed concern that there continues to be considerable public support for Trump in the United States, while at the same time support for extreme-right politics here in the European Union is also on the rise.
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