EU raises its guard against pandemic

He added, "What we have done is to renew our European marriage vows for the next 30 years."

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said, "We all know that Europe is not out of the woods yet, but it can now see dawn turning into light.

"We now have the opportunity to achieve something historic for Europe together," she told MEPs.

On Thursday, a majority of MEPs voted against endorsing the EU budget deal if it was not improved. Some opposed the cuts in grants and flagship EU programs, ranging from climate protection and digital transition to health and border management. Others said there should be a clear mechanism linking EU financing to respect for rule of law.

The result of the resolution was 465 in favor, 150 against and 67 abstentions.

The EU leadership, which assumed office in December, is eager to prove its competence by surviving and thriving amid the coronavirus challenge and that posed by Brexit. Some members worry that a trade deal between the bloc and the UK is looking less likely to be reached before the end of this year.

Michele Geraci, former undersecretary of state at the Italian Ministry of Economic Development, attributed the long "acrimonious negotiations on the condition of help" for the recovery package to the EU's "weakness and lack of solidarity".

Italy and Spain are expected to be among the major beneficiaries of the package.

Geraci said the EU now faces many political and economic challenges.

"We are in the middle of the worst economic crisis since World War II and we have no means to face it, nor the speed of execution that is required," he said.

Euronews and Brussels Times contributed to this story.