EU budget commissioner Piotr Serafin warned "The alternative to European spending is more national spending" - adding that defence, energy security and research "will have to be financed one way or another.”

The so-called "frugal" member states are asking a significant reduction in spending ahead of the EU's upcoming 2028-2034 budget. #EuropeNews

'Spending together is not only more effective, it is also cheaper,' says Piotr Serafin, EU budget commissioner