The Belgian MEP touted the package, named the Next Generation EU on Twitter as a meaningful “tool” to helping the 27 member states “leave the crisis behind”. As the pandemic raged across the continent last summer, Brussels’ €800billion (£695bn) recovery fund was welcomed as a historic deal. But nine months on the rollout of the funding continues to be blighted by problems – much like the EU’s vaccine programme.
There have been problems in some member states when it comes to ratifying the deal, especially in Germany and Poland.
And it has also been tarnished by difficulties in drawing up national recovery plans.
But despite the hurdles, Mr Verhofstadt insisted the deal could be banked on to take the EU27 into their post-Covid future.
He took to Twitter to push it as an answer to the club’s problems.
He said: “Massive investment is needed to leave the Covid crisis behind.
“NextGenerationEU is the tool with new own resources for the EU to pay for it.
“Let’s not make the same mistake as during the financial crisis!
“Short sighted leaders make long lasting economic crises!”
READ MORE: Eurozone collapse: Spain’s debt reaches record €83bn in 2020
One man responded to Mr Verhofstadt by saying: “The EU is a shambles. Here in Britain, we are laughing at you!”
A second wrote: “Thinking more taxes will help in creating economic growth? Madness.
“There’s no such thing as free money. Citizens will pay for it, again. As always.”
And yet a third suggested the EU’s recovery path will “end in tears”.
They tweeted: “For you, NextGenerationEU is synonymous with MoreEU.
“It’s the wrong path Guy and would end in tears.”
Spain and Italy are set to be the main beneficiaries of the fund, having been particularly badly battered by the virus.
Together, they are set to absorb more than €20billion (£17.3bn) in grants from the scheme.
The EU expects the ratification process of the package to be completed in all members states.
