Four EU governments are explicitly pushing the European Commission to examine new ways of using immobilised Russian assets for Ukraine
Sweden, Poland, the Netherlands and Spain are urging the European Commission to explore new ways of using Russia’s immobilised assets to support Ukraine, according to a letter seen by Euractiv.
The push comes ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Ireland next week, where the four countries are expected to reopen the debate over the bloc’s €200 billion frozen Russian sovereign assets, mostly held at Belgium-based Euroclear.
In a letter sent on Thursday to Kaja Kallas, the European Commission’s High Representative, and Helen McEntee, the Irish Foreign Minister, the four foreign ministers called for the EU executive to examine new options that would spread the legal and financial risks across all EU countries.
“We therefore propose that the Commission’s technical experts are invited to explore … new options on how to use the immobilised assets for the benefit of Ukraine,” the letter reads, adding that “the risk rests with all EU Member States” and that no country should bear a disproportionate burden.
