Five EU leaders: Europe must spend better, not just more
Bloc’s next budget should cut hundreds of billions from Commission proposal and refocus spending on security, defense and competitiveness.
Five EU leaders – Denmark’s Mette Frederiksen, Germany’s Friedrich Merz, the Netherlands’ Rob Jetten, Austria’s Christian Stocker, and Finland’s Petteri Orpo – have emphasized that Europe must spend wisely, not merely more, in a more dangerous and uncertain world. The group of net contributors, comprising nearly 40% of the EU budget and 70% of bilateral support for Ukraine, stands by their commitment to investing in the common security and defense.
However, they stress that any increase in the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) must be realistic. The European Commission’s proposed nominal increase of around 60% is deemed unfeasible, particularly given the significant burden of pandemic-related debt on the upcoming MFF. The leaders advocate for a balanced reduction in the Commission’s proposal and caution against common borrowing, as the pandemic debt will already amount to almost €170 billion by the time of the next MFF.
They assert that respect for common values and the rule of law are essential prerequisites for any European funding, and urge Europe to adapt its budget to reflect its new priorities.
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