The European Union is preparing to make an unprecedented decision regarding the use of frozen assets of the Russian Federation for the financial support of Ukraine. The initiative, promoted by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, proposes to change the usual decision-making mechanism and shift from unanimous voting to approval by a simple majority of member states.
This is reported by Finway
Legal Nuances and European Politics
Considering the likely resistance from certain states, particularly Hungary under Viktor Orbán, the European Commission is working on legal mechanisms that will allow it to bypass the veto power of individual leaders. This approach could, for the first time, challenge the principle of unanimity in the EU’s foreign policy, which has been in place since the Treaty of Rome in 1957.
The proposed plan includes two key options to strengthen Ukraine’s financial resilience. The first is to draw funds from the EU’s general budget, which requires unanimous support. The second is to provide a loan from Russian assets, the repayment of which will not be required until Moscow pays war reparations. It is the second option that could be implemented with the support of a majority of member states, thanks to the extraordinary powers of the European Commission.
International Context and Legal Prospects
The intensification of discussions around this initiative comes amid a growing reluctance among European countries to continue financing Ukraine from their own budgets after a prolonged armed conflict. The situation is further amplified by the unexpected interest of U.S. President Donald Trump in the idea of using frozen Russian assets within a potential peace agreement, which could involve directing them to American investment funds.
The Commission justifies the use of extraordinary measures by the “necessity to maintain the stability of the union’s economy,” arguing that Russia’s war against Ukraine and its hybrid attacks in Europe pose a threat to prosperity, and returning money to Moscow could worsen the situation.
Legal experts from member states have already begun analyzing the draft, and further discussions on the matter are scheduled among EU member state ambassadors in the coming days. According to informed officials, if the proposal is adopted, legal challenges are expected; however, a prolonged legal process could work in favor of Ukraine and its Western partners.
The document emphasizes that the “urgent nature of the proposal” did not allow for extensive consultations with all parties or a full impact assessment of this initiative.