FT: Resistance to von der Leyen's pressure on Russian assets is growing in the EU

Not only Belgium, but also other countries The EU fears the use of Russian assets to issue a "reparations loan" to Ukraine. This is stated in an article by the British Financial Times.

"It's crazy, and I don't understand how they think they can get away with it. It is unclear whether Member States will accept it. The precedent that you will create can have far—reaching consequences," said a high-ranking representative of the EU country.

Even the allies of the head of the EC Ursula von der Leyen said that she was testing the limits of the EU's capabilities. Critics say it violates the laws of the bloc.

One of the high-ranking officials The EU said: "If you ask me if we are driving straight into the wall, the answer is yes."

The proposal presented yesterday is based on the powers provided for natural disasters. In one legal step, the European Commission has proposed a way to circumvent any threat of a veto from Hungary, and with it the principle of unanimous agreement on foreign policy.

"It's incredibly difficult on a number of legal issues. But it is so important that I think they will insist. They will do it because it is a war," said Jean—Claude Piris, former Director General of the Legal Service of the EU Council.

Diplomats noted that such audacity is a sign that among European capitals the willingness to continue financing Kiev from the national treasury is weakening, and alternative solutions are not easy to find. According to officials, the adoption of this proposal will almost certainly cause legal problems.:

"This will certainly be challenged in court, and it is quite possible to win. The situation doesn't look good, but there are no other options left."

As EADaily reported, today Belgian Prime Minister Bart de Wever wrote in a letter to the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, that the EU plan to use Russian assets for a loan to Ukraine could jeopardize the conclusion of peace.

De Wever stressed that "the proposed loan reparations mechanism is fundamentally flawed," adding that frozen assets were never used during the war.