Euroclear: Prime Minister De Wever pleased that “the voice of small and medium-sized countries also counts”

De Wever was very wary of a loan to Ukraine based on the Russian assets that are mainly stored at Euroclear in Belgium. It was the preferred option of the European Commission and Germany, but at the end of the summit the leaders decided for the time being to abandon that track and to provide 90 billion euros through a joint loan on the financial markets.

The Belgian prime minister said he was “proud” that “we were able to contribute to a solution by being constructive and steadfast.” He also expressed satisfaction that it has been proven that “the voice of small and medium-sized countries also counts.” But De Wever did not want to speak of a diplomatic victory for Belgium. “It was not a battle between knights, but a rational debate.”

De Wever was above all satisfied that there is a “stable, legally robust and financially credible European solution” for Ukraine. “Otherwise we would have failed Ukraine and ourselves.” But now Ukraine has won, and so have Europe and financial stability, he added. And for Belgium it is also important that Euroclear’s credibility is preserved.

In the meantime, the Russian assets will remain frozen for an indefinite period and will eventually be used to repair the damage that Russia has caused, he further explained. “I think no one in the European family wants to see that money return to Moscow,” concluded the Belgian prime minister.

(Brussels, 12/19/25)