20/04/2020 (Agence Europe) – Slovakia, Ireland, Slovenia and Malta joined the Member States supporting the call to use the Green Deal as the“blueprint” for economic recovery (see EUROPE 12467/27), bringing the total number of signatories to 17 countries on Monday 20 April. “A majority of EU Member States representing more than 75% of the EU population now support the European Green Deal as a central part of the EU's recovery strategy after COVID-19”, the Finnish Embassy to the EU clearly responded on its Twitter account. It should be noted that Belgium is absent from this list of signatories due to the lack of agreement between its four climate Ministers. While the Walloon and Brussels Ministers supported the appeal, Flemish Minister Zuhal Demir (N-VA) opposed it. To read the appeal: https://bit.ly/2V9xPCq (DG)