German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and visiting Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever on Tuesday voiced opposition to the seizure of frozen Russian assets, warning of systemic and potentially dangerous consequences.
Speaking at a joint press conference in Berlin, the two leaders stressed a cautious approach.
“Legally, it’s not so simple,” De Wever said, noting that the Russian central bank’s funds enjoy legal immunity. He warned that seizing these assets would signal to the world that state funds in Europe could be confiscated for political reasons, prompting other countries to withdraw their reserves.
De Wever confirmed that a considerable amount of Russian state funds is immobilized at Euroclear in Brussels, adding that these are assets of the Russian central bank.
He compared the situation to a “goose that lays golden eggs,” pointing out that the windfall profits are already being used to support Ukraine. “It’s wise to keep the situation as it is today,” De Wever added, suggesting the assets could serve as a bargaining chip in future peace treaty negotiations.
Merz echoed these concerns, stressing potential impacts on capital markets and warning of the legal risks for Belgium if the funds were accessed unlawfully. Enditem
Source: Xinhua
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