EU LEADERS DISCUSS SECURITY MEASURES- President Costa says EU Leaders have indicated support for initial priority flagship projects
European Council President Antonio Costa, after the EU meeting in Copenhagen said EU leaders have indicated support for initial priority flagship projects to strengthen Europe’s security, including the European drone wall and the eastern flank watch.
EU President Ursula von der Leyen said at the news conference that Belgium cannot be the only member state that carries the risk of using Russia’s frozen assets to provide a 140 billion euro loan to Ukraine.
European leaders have expressed general support for the idea, but said some legal aspects of the operation would need to be clarified first.
Belgium, where most of the frozen assets are held, has previously said it wants EU guarantees before agreeing to the plan, as there are legal and financial risks involved.
The European Commission has proposed that the EU should use the cash balances from frozen Russian central bank securities to support Kyiv in 2026 and 2027. However, under international law, sovereign assets cannot be confiscated, so the EU is also burdened with the responsibility to honour Moscow’s claim on its central bank assets.
Belgium, where most of the frozen assets are located, is adamant that before it agrees to the plan, it would need strong EU guarantees that it would not be left alone to deal with Moscow if the Russian assets had to be suddenly returned.
