Berlin (dpa-AfX)-Germany and Belgium see access to the Russian central bank assets frozen in the EU. Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) and the Belgian Prime Minister Bart de Wever made this clear after a meeting in Berlin. “This is not so easy,” said de Wever. Merz also warned of negative effects on the capital market. Other countries could then also withdraw their state money.
Because of the war of aggression against Ukraine, around 210 billion euros of the Russian central bank are frozen in the EU. The interest income is now used to finance weapons and ammunition for Ukraine. However, suggestions to use the money directly through an expropriation decision are controversial.
De Wever campaigned to maintain the previous procedure and use the interest of the frozen central bank money. “It’s like a goose that lays golden eggs,” explained the Belgian. “We should keep these goose.” Only when a peace treaty is being negotiated between Russia and Ukraine, “can the goose come to the table” ./ AX/MFI/SK/DP/MIS