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
Hegseth in a meeting with his Chinese counterpart: Washington will continue to defend its interests vigorously
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth: The United States is concerned about China's activities in the South China Sea
Occupied Palestine: Israeli occupation forces demolishe residential homes east of Khan Younis city in the southern Gaza Strip
Al Mayadeen correspondent: An Israeli drone attacked the main road in the town of Harouf, South Lebanon.
Lebanese President: Israeli aggression on Blida took place in aftermath of meeting of ceasefire monitoring committee.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun asks Commander of Lebanese Army to confront any Israeli incursion into liberated Lebanese territory in the South.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli aircraft launch series of strikes on area of Jarmaq, South Lebanon.
Reuters: Afghanistan and Pakistan agree to restart peace talks in Istanbul.
Al-Mayadeen's correspondent in southern Lebanon: Israeli occupation forces withdraw from the Blida municipality building two hours after occupying it, and the Lebanese army enters
Pakistani army: 6 soldiers and 7 militants killed in clash near the Afghan border

EU Council chief Michel says seizing Russia's assets won't be easy

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 6 Feb 2024 16:08
3 Min Read

The European Council President states that it is difficult due to 'international and legal constraints' but confirms that the EU is working with other countries to procure funds for Ukraine.

  • x
  • European Council President Charles Michel talks to journalists in Brussels, Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024. (AP)
    European Council President Charles Michel talks to journalists in Brussels, Thursday, February 1, 2024. (AP)

European Council President Charles Michel said on Tuesday that constructing a legal framework to allow the European Union to seize frozen Russian state assets won't be such an easy thing to do.

During a European Parliament plenary session, he said, "It’s not going to be easy because there are international and legal constraints. We need to work, but we will do so working with our G7 partners". 

Together with the G7 partners (the US, Japan, and Canada), the EU is anticipated to hold around $300 billion of Russian central bank assets.

This comes as the G7 have been discussing how to seize the funds to pay for Ukraine’s reconstruction. The EU possibility mirrors what the US Justice Department has been considering, as it seeks congressional approval to utilize frozen Russian assets in support of Ukraine.

"The Council has to move forward giving the Commission the task of focusing on profits so that we can make sure that this money is used for supporting Ukraine," Michel said in parliament.

Related News

US still probing China compliance with Phase One trade deal

US slashes refugee admissions, but prioritizes white South Africans

Kiev's allies have been grappling with further means to send more funds as the war nears its two-year mark, and have been looking into the allocation of frozen Russian funds - estimated at $300 billion - as military aid to Kiev.

Read next: Ukraine's SBU uncovers $40mln embezzlement scheme in the military

Violation of sovereignty

The seizure of Russian frozen assets by any Western country would be regarded as "outright theft" and would be effectively responded to, the Russian Foreign Ministry said last month.

"We have spoken more than once about the illegitimacy of unilateral coercive measures taken by Western countries in relation to Russian property abroad. We have repeatedly noted that the seizure of property of the Russian Federation is unlawful and violates the fundamental principles and norms of international law, including the sovereign equality of states," the ministry said.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said last week that the EU plan to seize Russian central bank assets was an "escalation of economic aggression" and a trade war, and warned that Russia would respond in a correspondingly harsh manner.

She said that any attempt to confiscate Russian assets would be a gross violation of the West’s own law, international rules, and bilateral obligations.

  • United States
  • Russia
  • Charles Michel
  • Ukraine
  • European Commission
  • European Union

Most Read

Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

  • Politics
  • 27 Oct 2025
Hi-tech holocaust: Microsoft’s role in Gaza genocide

Microsoft's role in world’s first AI-driven genocide, in Gaza, exposed

  • Technology
  • 28 Oct 2025
What Marr evidently didn't seem to understand was that Hedges isn't saying that Western journalists manipulate the truth, but that they systematically amplify Israeli narratives they know are false. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

Western journalists know they have a case to answer for their betrayal of Gaza, and it frightens them

  • Opinion
  • 24 Oct 2025
Sheikh Naim Qassem speaks during an interview with Al-Manar TV, October 26, 2025 (Screenshot)

Hezbollah ready to face 'Israel' in case of war: Sheikh Naim Qassem

  • Politics
  • 27 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
ap
Politics

Hamas calls on int’l community to act against Israeli settlement plan

In this Nov. 9, 2017, file photo, U.S. President Donald Trump, right, chats with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. (AP)
Economy

Ex-US diplomat says Trump-Xi deal 'tactical retreat', not lasting deal

An unarmed Minuteman II intercontinental ballistic missile launches from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, during a test in 2002. (US Air Force)
Politics

JD Vance defends Trump's nuclear test plan as 'crucial for security'

Ultra-Orthodox Jews attend the "million man" protest against military conscription, in occupied al-Quds, October 30, 2025 (AFP)
Politics

Haredi mass rally in al-Quds exposes Zionist regime's growing crisis

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