Six EU States Demand Cuts to Next Seven-Year Budget

Six EU member states, led by the Netherlands, are pushing to reduce the bloc's next multi-annual financial framework by several hundred billion euros, according to Dutch news agency reports. The proposal signals a fiscal hawkish shift within the EU, potentially complicating negotiations over the 2028-2034 budget. The outcome is uncertain, but a smaller budget could constrain EU spending on defense, climate, and enlargement.