In a time when Europe is facing both war and economic challenges, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen emphasizes the need for Denmark and other EU countries to consider increasing their contributions to the union’s budget. At a Nordic summit in Stockholm, the Nordic leaders, including Norway’s Jonas Gahr Støre, Sweden’s Ulf Kristersson, Finland’s Petteri Orpo, Iceland’s Bjarni Benediktsson, and Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz, discussed how to strengthen Europe’s competitiveness and maintain private investments within the continent’s borders. “We need to find a way to finance everything that Europe needs to be able to do, otherwise we lose in the global competition,” said Frederiksen, adding that the current geopolitical landscape and economic challenges require a fresh look at the EU’s budget. She suggests that the focus should not only be on increasing the budget but also critically reviewing how existing funds are used to ensure they are used as efficiently as possible.
The discussion about the EU’s budget is particularly urgent in light of the continued conflict on the continent and the need to strengthen both defense and climate efforts. Frederiksen acknowledges that Denmark has historically been reluctant to increase its contribution to the EU but now says that “nothing can be ruled out” in the current situation. The summit in Stockholm could be crucial in determining how the Nordic countries and Germany collaborate to tackle the economic challenges facing Europe and how they can work together to enhance the continent’s ability to compete globally while protecting and promoting interests within the EU.