EU considers using Russian Central Bank assets to rebuild Ukraine
The European Union is studying the feasibility of using billions of euros worth of Russian central bank assets already frozen by member states to help with Ukraine’s reconstruction efforts, Bloomberg News reports, citing people familiar with the matter.
The discussions are at an early stage and legal experts have been recently tasked to look into possible options, the people said, asking not to be identified discussing confidential matters. Assessing whether or how to take control of the assets is extremely complex and potentially legally fraught.
The options would focus on how to eventually seize some of the about $300 billion of the Central Bank of Russia’s reserves that were frozen by the E.U., the U.S. and other allies following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Any E.U. action would focus on assets held in Europe, the people said. It is unclear precisely what assets have been frozen in the E.U.
The issue has been raised with the U.S., two of the people said, but it is unclear if the Biden administration would also take steps to seize Russian reserves held in dollars. In May, Treasury officials expressed concern about setting a precedent that would discourage other foreign central banks from parking their assets in the U.S. Confiscating central bank assets would be a legal minefield and the road from an options paper to one day becoming reality is a long one.
The European Commission is “exploring how to make Russia pay for the destruction it caused” and it’s been asked by E.U. leaders “to present options for using frozen assets for the reconstruction of Ukraine, in line with E.U. and international law,” said spokesman Christian Wigand, adding that “work is underway.”