European Union leaders are meeting in Brussels to negotiate the bloc's budget for the next seven years. The European Commission proposed a two-trillion-euro spending plan last summer, but a group of so-called frugal member states says that number is too high. France is pushing for more ambitious spending to help Europe achieve independence in technology and defense. The Commission now suggests developing new revenue sources to find common ground. These discussions could stretch across the next six months, according to France 24.

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