Denmark quits the Frugal Four to focus on rearming Europe, says PM Frederiksen

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Denmark quits the Frugal Four to focus on rearming Europe, says PM Frederiksen   If Europe fails to rearm itself, "then it's game over", Mette Frederiksen said as she called for defence spending to be the "number one" priority.  READ MORE : http://www.euronews.com/2025/06/03/denmark-quits-the-frugal-four-to-focus-on-rearming-europe-says-pm-frederiksen  Subscribe to our channel. Euronews is available on Dailymotion in 12 languages

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00:00Denmark has officially quit the frugal fort to focus on rearmament.

00:06Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has announced.

00:09Denmark joined the so-called frugal fort during the 2020 negotiations on the EU budget.

00:15The group of fiscally conservative countries also included the Netherlands, Austria and Sweden.

00:21But as the new budget talks approach, Copenhagen wants to switch sides.

00:26As days we will always be tough in the negotiations on the budget.

00:31We don't want money to be spent on nothing that is not necessary for Europe.

00:35So we will be tough.

00:37But being a part of the frugal fort is no longer the right place for us.

00:43From now on Denmark will have a more flexible attitude towards the common EU budget, Frederiksen said,

00:50insisting defense spending should take precedence over all other priorities.

00:56For me the most important thing is to rearm Europe.

00:59That's my starting point and that's my conclusion in all discussions.

01:02Because if Europe is not able to protect ourselves and to defend ourselves, then it's game over at some point.

01:08Denmark isn't the only one with a change of mindset.

01:12Sweden and Finland have also softened their positions, calling for fresh money to boost veterans' capabilities against Russia.

01:21The European Commission is expected to present the drop budget before the summer break.

01:26Once the proposal is on the table, the political debate will begin in full swing.

01:32Sweden.

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