Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli warplanes carry out two airstrikes on the outskirts of the town of Nabi Sheet in eastern Lebanon, near the Syrian border
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli warplanes launch a series of airstrikes targeting the hills surrounding the town of Shmestar, west of Baalbek in eastern Lebanon
Colombia: President Gustavo Petro: Trump's insult to myself and Colombia is no longer aimed at achieving an effective counter-drug strategy
Trump cancels Putin meeting, says "didn't feel right"
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Caracas: The United States attacks another alleged drug-trafficking ship off the coast of Colombia in the Pacific Ocean
Palestinian official urges world to force 'Israel' to comply with ICJ ruling: AFP
Israeli media says Knesset approved bill to annex in West Bank in preliminary reading
Kremlin: As part of strategic nuclear force exercise, Cruiser Bryansk launched Sineva ballistic missile from Barents Sea.
Kremlin: Yars Intercontinental Ballistic Missile launched from Plesetsk Cosmodrome at Kura test site in Kamchatka.
Kremlin: Strategic nuclear forces exercise took place under Putin's leadership.

Belgium open to EU risk-sharing over frozen Russian assets

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 10 Sep 2025 15:44
3 Min Read

Belgium is reconsidering its position on frozen Russian assets worth €190 billion if legal and financial risks are shared across the EU.

Listen
  • x
  • Belgium's Minister of Foreign Affairs Maxime Prevot speaks to journalists during UA-EU foreign Minister's meeting in Lviv, Ukraine, on Friday, May 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Mykola Tys)
    Belgium's Minister of Foreign Affairs Maxime Prevot speaks to journalists during UA-EU foreign Minister's meeting in Lviv, Ukraine, on Friday, May 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Mykola Tys)

Belgium has indicated it is willing to reconsider its cautious stance on using frozen Russian assets, amounting to €190 billion ($222 billion) held within its territory, if the European Union (EU) agrees to share the legal burden.

Speaking to the Financial Times, Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot stated that his government may support more assertive strategies to generate income from the assets, as long as the financial and legal risks are distributed among all 27 EU member states.

“If new initiatives were to be taken, it would be necessary to ensure their legal robustness, but also that there would be a pooling of risks,” Prévot emphasized.

He warned, however, against overly aggressive steps, likening the current situation to a “hen laying golden eggs,” a resource that must be handled with care to ensure long-term benefit.

EU pushes for greater returns to aid Ukraine reconstruction

The frozen assets, held primarily by Euroclear, a Belgium-based central securities depository, have accumulated profits as they mature. These profits are already being earmarked to repay a $50 billion loan the G7 raised for Ukraine’s reconstruction amid the ongoing conflict with Russia.

While the European Commission has resisted direct asset seizure, it is exploring riskier reinvestment strategies to boost returns. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed efforts are advancing to channel those returns toward Ukraine’s defense and rebuilding efforts.

Despite this, Belgium has historically blocked more aggressive use of the underlying assets, citing fears of litigation and long-term damage to its financial credibility.

Related News

EU adopts 19th sanctions package, bans Russian LNG imports by 2027

US sanctions Russian oil firms, urges Moscow accept ceasefire

“Belgium alone cannot be made liable for any potential claims that could one day condemn it to repaying the equivalent of its annual budget,” said Prévot.

Still, he noted, "the appetite now seems bigger" for a broader EU legal safety net.

Read more: Russia must pay reparations before frozen assets are returned: Kallas

Caution over escalation: fears of market fallout and global precedents

Officials at Euroclear have dismissed any strategy to increase returns through higher-risk investments, arguing that doing so would constitute a form of confiscation, a position echoed by the Belgian foreign minister.

“We understand why the pressure on our shoulders is increasing every day,” Prévot said. “But confiscation is not an option.”

He warned such moves could damage international trust in European financial institutions and the euro, saying, “This could raise fears among other nations that their sovereign assets in Europe may be targeted for political reasons in the future.”

Such precedent, he warned, could result in a collapse of confidence in European markets, with devastating consequences.

Instead, Prévot argued for keeping the immobilized assets as negotiation leverage in any future peace talks.

“If we want the hen to continue laying golden eggs, we must avoid killing it,” he said.

Read more: Trump urges EU to impose 100% tariffs on China and India

  • Belgium
  • Russia
  • Russian assets
  • Russian frozen assets
  • Maxime Prevot
  • Euroclear
  • Ukraine reconstruction

Most Read

Yemeni Armed Forces Chief of Staff Major General Mohammad Abd al-Karim al-Ghamari , during a ceremony in an undisclosed locations in Yemen, undate (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemeni Armed Forces mourn martyred Chief of Staff al-Ghamari

  • Politics
  • 16 Oct 2025
From previous scenes of the Qassam Brigades targeting an Israeli D9 bulldozer with a Yassin 105 shell, east of Deir al-Balah. (Military Media of the Qassam Brigades)

US knew fatal Rafah blast cause was not Hamas op., says journalist

  • Politics
  • 20 Oct 2025
Abu Hamza, the spokesperson for the Al-Quds Brigades, during a speech televised on October 22, 2025 (Al-Quds Brigades Military Media)

Al-Quds Brigades' Abu Hamza mourns leaders, vows continued resistance

  • Politics
  • 22 Oct 2025
Smoke and fire rises after 'Israel' launched airstrikes on the village of Ansar, Lebanon, October 16, 2025 (social media)

'Israel' launches two waves of brutal strikes on east, south Lebanon

  • Politics
  • 16 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Pro-Palestinian activists protest at Lafayette Park across from the White House to mark the approaching one year anniversary of the Israeli war on Gaza, Saturday, October 5, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
Politics

Jewish figures call for sanctions on 'Israel' over Gaza genocide

Activists from the Foreign Press Association during a panel calling for press freedom in Gaza, April 11, 2025 in London, England. (X/ @FPALondon)
Politics

FPA demands Israeli court to allow int'l journalists access to Gaza

Matsapha Correctional Complex is seen in Matsapha, near Mbabane, Eswatini, Thursday July 17, 2025. (AP Photo)
Politics

Cuban man deported from US to Eswatini launches hunger strike

Russia President Vladimir Putin conducts a strategic nuclear forces exercise via videoconference from the Presidential Situation Centre at the Kremlin in Moscow, on Wednesday, October 22, 2025. (Alexander Kazakov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
Politics

Putin oversees ICBM, cruise missile tests in strategic nuclear drill

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS