George Soros accused of undue influence by some EU lawmakers
Frankfurt — Billionaire investor and activist George Soros has met a European Central Bank (ECB) director to argue for closer eurozone integration, prompting criticism from some EU lawmakers who fear he is exerting undue influence on a sensitive political issue. The Hungarian-born financier is a veteran advocate of European unity whose championing of liberal causes over decades has earned him many enemies, including Hungary’s nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban and some Brexit supporters. Soros held a private meeting on November 14 with Benôit Coeuré, a member of the six-strong board that steers ECB policy, to discuss "euro-area deepening", according to a part of Coeuré’s diary published on Thursday. Soros requested the meeting, which was also attended by a representative of his hedge fund and another ECB official, to discuss a common eurozone budget and treasury, a source close to the matter said. Germany has led opposition in the EU to a common budget, fearing it would end up ...
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