This isn't new. The point is that Belgium wants other EU members to share legal risks as most Russian assets are held in Belgium's Euroclear, as has been stated also by an Belgian official recently. Several EU states have revived the plan already a few days ago. I hope the EU makes the decision soon.
The Belgium government includes the N-VA, a party with right-wing and Flemish nationalist leanings, the current Belgian government has a significant right-wing influence (even though it is a multi-party coalition that also includes centrist and center-left parties). And, as is so often the case, these rightwing nationalists do not have the cojones to stand up against Putin’s threats.
Why does the rest of the EU not have the cojones to take over the risk?
It not only shows that they don't have the cojones, as a much bigger group with much less individual risk, but also that the risk is substantial. That means Belgium very likely would have to pay it back one day.
Nah, the Belgium government officials are afraid, because Putin threatened their personal lives. The risk isn’t fnancial. De facto Free Europe is all already at war with the Russian dictatorship, and for that fight we all need to put the boxing gloves on.
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