Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Euro Countries Agree on Half Trillion Euros in Support

Associated Press

   FRANKFURT, GERMANY - Governments from the 19 countries that use the
   euro overcame sharp differences to agree Thursday on measures that
   could provide more than a half-trillion euros ($550 billion) for
   companies, workers and health systems to cushion the economic impact of
   the virus outbreak.

   Mario Centeno, who heads the finance ministers' group from euro
   countries, called the package of measures agreed upon "totally
   unprecedented ... . Tonight Europe has shown it can deliver when the
   will is there."

   The deal struck Thursday among the finance ministers did not, however,
   include more far-reaching cooperation in the form of shared borrowing
   guaranteed by all member countries.

.