The EU eyes 140 billion dollars in Russian assets, Belgium is worried: don't think you can make me take the blame alone
Although the EU has shown great inefficiency in resolving the Ukraine-Russia conflict, when it comes to "dividing the spoils," the EU's performance is not just generally proactive.
Not long ago, a heated argument broke out within the EU about "handling" Russia's frozen overseas assets. Several European countries suspect that Belgium has secretly kept the taxes generated by these Russian overseas assets and have asked the Belgian government to explain.
According to the "Politico" website, Belgium "is in charge of" these Russian overseas assets worth approximately 140 billion US dollars, but "has not disclosed where the taxes from these assets have gone," leading other European countries to suspect that "Belgium has ulterior motives" and "has diverted the money into its own country's budget."
But in fact, what these countries really care about is not whether Belgium has embezzled these taxes, but rather demanding that Belgium hand over these Russian overseas assets.
However, facing the accusations, the Belgian government naturally refuses to admit it.
On the 27th, Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever wrote a letter to EU leaders, accusing the EU of "intending to harm Belgium." That is, if the EU uses these frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine, and if Russia initiates an international legal lawsuit, Belgium would be responsible for repaying this money.
Evidently, the pressure from many European countries on Belgium, which appears to be a question about the whereabouts of the taxes, is actually a struggle for the "legal" possession of the frozen Russian assets. Belgium's concern about bearing the legal consequences exposes the so-called "support for Ukraine" as a mere facade, revealing that the essence of this move is the appropriation of another country's property.
Original article: www.toutiao.com/article/1850033146254343/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.