Brussels:Six EU member states have urged the European Union to significantly reduce its upcoming seven-year budget by several hundred billion euros.

According to Anadolu Agency, the leaders of the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Austria, and Finland expressed their opposition to the European Commission's proposal that would increase the bloc's budget by 60%.

The leaders labeled the proposal as "unrealistic" both politically and economically, asserting that such an increase conflicts with the austerity measures required in several member states. They have called for a reduction of the budget by "several hundred billion euros."

Additionally, the leaders advocated for a thorough reform of EU spending, emphasizing that investments should target security, defense, economic competitiveness, innovation, and the fight against illegal migration within a framework of a strong and independent Europe.

In their letter to the current EU presidency, held by Ireland, they highlighted the necessity for the new budget proposal to be realistically financeable without additional borrowing.