“We are not ready,” said Lahbib, who holds the humanitarian aid and crisis management portfolio, when asked why the proposal was delayed. “It’s unprecedented. It is the first time that we are doing so, so we are in the territory that we need to explore very carefully to deal with all the potential consequences.”
The assets, she said, belong to Russia’s central bank and are protected under international law, which must be respected. “Belgium but also other member states are aware that we need to go forward cautiously,” she said.
Lahbib said she would not “name and shame” the other EU countries where Russian assets are deposited, but questioned whether they were playing their full part in using the interest from these assets to help Ukraine in the way Belgium has done. Deposits are also held in France, Luxembourg and Germany, among other countries.
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“We are not ready,” said Lahbib, who holds the humanitarian aid and crisis management portfolio, when asked why the proposal was delayed. “It’s unprecedented. It is the first time that we are doing so, so we are in the territory that we need to explore very carefully to deal with all the potential consequences.”
The assets, she said, belong to Russia’s central bank and are protected under international law, which must be respected. “Belgium but also other member states are aware that we need to go forward cautiously,” she said.
Lahbib said she would not “name and shame” the other EU countries where Russian assets are deposited, but questioned whether they were playing their full part in using the interest from these assets to help Ukraine in the way Belgium has done. Deposits are also held in France, Luxembourg and Germany, among other countries.