German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is seeking a solution with Belgium on the issue of the provision of Russian funds to support Ukraine.
On Thursday, Merz said that he was taking the Belgian government’s concerns seriously. “The points are important and we need to talk about them and I will try to resolve them.”
Earlier, a government spokesman in Berlin announced that Merz had postponed an upcoming trip to Norway to be able to travel to Belgium for a meeting with Prime Minister Bart de Wever and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
European Union leaders must adopt a common position and, in particular, reach an agreement with Belgium, Merz said.
The talks over dinner in Brussels on Friday are likely to focus on the European Commission’s proposal for using Russian assets frozen in the European Union to support Ukraine.
Merz said: “I don’t want to persuade him. I want to convince him that the path we are proposing here is the right one. And if we take this path, then we will take it in order to help Ukraine.”
The Russian central bank assets managed by the Belgian financial institution Euroclear are estimated at around €185 billion ($215.6 billion).
The Belgian government has repeatedly called for the involvement of other EU states in order to minimize the risk of Belgium becoming the sole target of possible retaliatory measures.
Merz said that Germany would be one of the possible “guarantor states” for safeguarding the assets in the Belgian capital.
According to EU officials, the commission is looking to unlock Russian funds frozen in Belgium, Germany and other member states to provide Kiev with a loan for reparations of up to €210 billion ($245 billion).
De Wever emphasized once again Thursday evening in parliament that Belgium would “not burden [itself] with irresponsible risks.”
Merz was originally due to travel to Oslo on Friday where he was to be hosted by King Harald V and Crown Prince Haakon in the Royal Palace in Oslo.
The German leader was also scheduled to hold talks with Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.