France's Europe minister Clément Beaune tells the Financial Times that rule of law and fundamental rights cannot be compromised under the new €750bn EU budget recovery fund.

Demonstrators are demanding prime minister Boyko Borissov and chief prosecutor Ivan Geshev resign, following a raid on the president's office. President Rumen Radev has been a vocal critic of the government and its record on graft.

Several diplomats described Michel being "traumatised" and "paralysed" by the failure at the February summit, and some argue he has learned "not to take for granted what leaders tell him".

Raising the stakes, Hungarian premier Viktor Orban uses the parliament in a show of unity to push for tough conditions going into the complex and tough budget negotiations.

The presidential vote split the country into two, with incumbent president Andrzej Duda emerging victorious after a campaign laced with homophobic and anti-Semitic rhetoric.

The German chancellor told MEPs that for her restricting fundamental rights to stop the spread of coronavirus was a "very difficult decision". She said the EU must act quick to mitigate the economic fallout.