He said he would also prefer setting up a new support fund rather than having countries use the European Stability Mechanism (ESM).

„If you do (support) from the ESM, then it‘s a loan and a loan must be paid back,“ he said. „If you do it as a gift, then it‘s: ‚Listen, you guys have been hit hard, but together with a number of wealthier countries, we‘re prepared to bear the direct costs of the coronavirus crisis‘.“