Belgian PM Says EU Commission Will Not Revive Plan to Use Frozen Russian Assets Held at Euroclear
BRUSSELS — Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever said on October 22 that the European Commission had assured EU leaders it would not revive proposals to use Russian assets frozen at Brussels-based Euroclear to fund Ukraine. He added that there was now no "great enthusiasm" among EU leaders for pursuing the proposal.
Euroclear, the international central securities depository headquartered in Brussels, holds a substantial share of the Russian sovereign assets frozen after the start of the Russia-Ukraine war. Belgium has long warned that public calls to seize the assets could carry legal consequences and expose Belgium to litigation and retaliation risks.
Ukraine is seeking further financial support beyond a €90 billion EU loan agreed for 2026 and 2027. De Wever's remarks indicate that, for now, the contested idea of using the principal of the frozen Russian assets will not return to the EU agenda.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 布鲁塞尔欧盟委员会总部贝尔莱蒙大厦 / Berlaymont Building, Brussels。图片：© EmDee / CC BY-SA 4.0，Wikimedia Commons
