Five EU leaders: Europe must spend better, not just more

The leaders of Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Austria and Finland — Mette Frederiksen, Friedrich Merz, Rob Jetten, Christian Stocker and Petteri Orpo — argue that the EU's next long-term budget should cut hundreds of billions from the Commission's proposal. Writing in a joint opinion piece, they say the Multiannual Financial Framework must shift away from pre-allocated subsidies and transfers toward common investment in security, defense, competitiveness, innovation and the fight against irregular migration.