BERLIN (dpa-AFX) – Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) is seeking a solution with Belgium on the issue of making available Russian funds to support Ukraine. After consultations with the prime ministers in Berlin, Merz said he was taking the Belgian government’s concerns seriously. “The points are important and we need to talk about them and I will try to resolve them.” There must be a common position among the heads of state and government in the European Union and, in particular, agreement must be reached with Belgium.
Merz is traveling to Belgium on Friday evening to speak privately with Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The Chancellor said, referring to the Belgian head of government: “I don’t want to persuade him. I want to convince him that the path we are proposing here is the right one. And if we go down this path, we are taking it to help Ukraine.” Merz had postponed a trip to Norway because of the meeting in Belgium.
Russian assets amounting to 185 billion euros
The Russian central bank assets managed by the Belgian financial institution Euroclear are estimated at around 185 billion euros. The Belgian government has repeatedly called for the involvement of other EU states in order to reduce the risk of Belgium becoming the sole target of possible retaliation.
Merz said Germany would be one of the possible “guarantor states” for securing assets in the Belgian capital.
According to EU officials, a proposal presented by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for a so-called reparations loan worth up to 210 billion euros would see Germany and several other states, as well as Belgium, provide Russian funds to support Ukraine.
Belgium’s Prime Minister De Wever made it clear again in the evening that Belgium would “not burden itself with irresponsible risks.” Among other things, the danger is seen that Moscow will expropriate European private individuals and companies in Russia./hoe/DP/mis