Belgian Prime Minister Bart de Wever stated on January 22 that Europe cannot simply confiscate Russian assets, describing such actions as an “act of war.”
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, de Wever said: “We are not at war with Russia. Europe is not at war with Russia. You can’t just confiscate money. This is an act of war. Don’t underestimate this. This has never happened: immobilized money has never been confiscated, even during World War II.”
He added that the seizure of Russian assets would have “serious consequences for Europe, for the credibility of the eurozone financial system.” De Wever also noted: “There is no free money. Everything that seems simple is actually very difficult. If assets are confiscated and spent, then at some point they will have to be reimbursed, and then a big problem will arise.”
