Six EU states demand multi-hundred-billion-euro budget cuts

The Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Austria, and Finland are jointly urging a reduction of the EU's next multi-annual budget by 'several hundred billion euros', challenging the bloc's spending plans. The demand signals a fiscal consolidation push by net contributors, potentially complicating negotiations on the 2028-2034 framework. The outcome remains uncertain, but the move could reshape EU funding priorities and cohesion policy.