Finland welcomes Commission’s budget proposal

Article reports that Finland gave a warm reception to the European Commission’s roughly €1,000bn budget proposal (Multiannual financial framework, 2014 - 2020 - MFF) breaking ranks with a campaign led by UK Prime Minister David Cameron to rein in EU spending.

In December 2010, Mr Cameron had recruited the Nordic country’s then-prime minister, Mari Kiviniemi, and three other European leaders to sign a letter demanding that EU spending rise by no more than inflation and reflect the austerity measures taking hold across the continent.

On the 18 July 2011 however, Alexander Stubb, Finland’s Minister for European Affairs, praised as 'reasonable' and 'balanced' the MFF proposal published by the European Commission in June 2011 and dismissed by the UK as unrealistic.

ESO: Background information: Multiannual Financial Framework 2014-2020 http://www.europeansources.info/record/multiannual-financial-framework-2014-2020/

ESO: Background information: Barroso tables €1trillion budget for EU until 2020 http://www.europeansources.info/record/barroso-tables-e1-trillion-budget-for-eu-until-2020/

ESO: Background information: Secret bid to hold EU budget for 10 years http://www.europeansources.info/record/secret-bid-to-hold-eu-budget-for-10-years/

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