Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Denmark is ready to abandon its traditionally frugal stance on the European Union budget in response to the growing threat from Russia, Politico reported, quoted by BTA.
“Last time we had a leading role in the ‘frugal four’. Next time we will lead in another group,“ she stressed, referring to the alliance of fiscally cautious countries - Denmark, Sweden, Austria and the Netherlands.
During a joint press conference with European Parliament President Roberta Mezzola, Frederiksen pointed out that while Denmark remains firm in budget negotiations, its place is no longer among the most restrictive votes. “Being part of the ‘thrift power’ is no longer the right place for us“, she said.
The main motive behind this change is the need to strengthen European defense in light of Russian aggression in Ukraine.
“For me, the most important thing is to rearm Europe“, Frederiksen said. “If Europe cannot defend itself, at some point it will simply be game over.“
According to her, the EU has no time for hesitation and needs a “new budget profile“ to respond to current geopolitical realities.
Negotiations on the EU's next Multiannual Financial Framework (2028-2034) will start after the summer, and Denmark will play a key role as it takes over the presidency of the Council of the EU from July.
More In December, Frederiksen signaled a change of heart, saying Copenhagen was looking at the common European debt - traditionally taboo in the country - "with new eyes". In her New Year's speech, she stressed the need for more investment and state aid to stimulate European economies.
In March, Danish officials participated in a secret meeting with senior officials from Sweden, Finland, Poland, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. The idea of creating a supranational bank to facilitate joint arms purchases and reduce defense procurement costs was discussed.