July 16 (UPI) -- The European Commission on Wednesday advanced a trillion-dollar budget proposal that would boost EU defense spending by billions through the next three years. The $2.31 trillion proposal would see roughly 35% go to climate and biodiversity projects with the overall budget framework amounting to around 1.26% of the European Union's average gross national income. "It is a budget that matches Europe's ambition, that confronts Europe's challenges and that strengthens our