Denmark breaks away from frugal club, reshapes EU budget path
Denmark's Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, announced on Tuesday that her country is leaving the so-called "frugal club," comprised of states opposing a generous EU budget. This declaration followed a visit to Copenhagen by the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola.
The Danish government will assume the presidency of the European Council on 1 July, taking over from Poland. It intends to focus on, among other things, EU finances after 2027.
In more general terms, in these uncertain times, we need a stronger Europe and we need a safer Europe, just as we need a smarter and a faster one, emphasised Frederiksen during a joint press conference with Metsola at her office.
A commentator on the Danish public broadcaster DR's website noted that Denmark's change of approach is linked to the situation in which the country found itself. Europe has become closer to Copenhagen following US President Donald Trump's claims over Greenland. Another reason is Russian aggression towards Ukraine.
Until now, the so-called frugal club included not only Denmark but also the Netherlands, Sweden, and Austria. The governments of these countries had previously opposed the expansion of the EU budget, fearing the need to pay higher contributions.
