Denmark’s prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, has announced that the country has left the so-called Frugal Four in favour of a “more flexible” approach to the EU’s seven-year budget, stating that “all other priorities” should be subordinated to the urgent objective of rearmament of the bloc against Russia.
“As Danes, we will always negotiate the budget with toughness. Money shouldn’t be spent on something that Europe doesn’t need. Therefore, we will be tough, but we no longer belong in the Frugal Four,” Frederiksen stated on Tuesday while standing next to European Parliament President Roberta Metsola.
During the bloc’s 2020 budget negotiations, the Netherlands, Austria, Sweden, and Denmark formed an informal alliance known as the Frugal Four. In contrast to the expansionary agenda promoted by France and the South, the fiscally conservative coalition—occasionally backed by Finland—aggressively pushed to limit common expenditure.
The Frugal Four’s pressure was crucial in changing the balance of the €750 billion COVID recovery fund by raising the proportion of loans that were repaid individually and decreasing the proportion of grants that were given out collectively.
The media thoroughly examined the group’s backstage manoeuvres, which helped to solidify its reputation further. They were frequently criticised for being unyielding and inconsiderate of the concerns of the nations most affected by the pandemic.
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