In a major policy shift, Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has declared that rearming Europe is now her top political priority. Speaking at a press conference in Copenhagen alongside European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, Frederiksen stated unequivocally that for her the most important thing is to rearm Europe, because “if Europe cannot protect and defend itself, everything else falls apart.” This marks a significant transformation in Denmark’s traditional stance. Once a leading member of the so-called “Frugal Four” (alongside the Netherlands, Austria, and Sweden), Denmark was known for opposing shared EU debt and insisting on strict budgetary discipline. That position is shifting. Last December, Copenhagen broke a long-standing taboo by opening up to the idea of new common European debt to support future challenges, including defense and competitiveness. Denmark is poised to play a key role in shaping the European Union’s direction, as it prepares to assume the rotating presidency of the EU Council next month. Coinciding with this is the European Commission’s forthcoming proposal on the future EU budget, due in July. Meanwhile, other former “frugal” nations are also adjusting their fiscal policies in response to the changing geopolitical landscape: Sweden remains the most fiscally conservative among the former frugals but has also announced plans to boost defense spending by 12 billion SEK in 2025—funded through deficit spending, rather than targeting a budget surplus. The shift comes as the European Commission prepares to unveil its Spring Package of the European Semester today, including country-specific recommendations. The broader trend suggests that even Europe’s strictest budget hawks are rethinking austerity in favor of stronger collective security.
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