There are concerns within the EU that even if Belgium's objections to providing the reparations loan to Kyiv are resolved, the process of approving it could still be delayed.

Source: Politico, Brussels-based politics and policy news organisation, as reported by European Pravda

Details: According to two officials familiar with the plans, once Belgium's concerns are addressed, the European Commission will formally propose the reparations loan legislation within the next few weeks.

Two other EU officials familiar with the plans said that the European Parliament is also likely to be involved in drafting the legislation. This could slow down the process and jeopardise the Commission's hopes of securing €140 billion by April, when Kyiv is expected to run out of money.

Pressure is growing due to the fact that further International Monetary Fund (IMF) support for Ukraine depends on the EU loan.

"The longer we now run delays, the more challenging it will become," Economy Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis told reporters in Sofia this week.

"It may open questions on some possible bridging solutions or so. So sooner is better," he added.

As a precaution, Belgium is demanding that EU governments provide national guarantees worth over €170 billion for the loan, which could be paid out at any time. Belgium also wants assurances that using the monetary value of Russian assets will be legally sound.

Dombrovskis said that Commission lawyers had "very thoroughly assessed all the legal risks or possible litigation risks", which they considered to be "contained". He added that "in any case, guarantees to be provided to Belgium [are] to cover potential financial risks Belgium may face" if Moscow's lawyers file a lawsuit against the government.

Background:

• There were unofficial concerns within the EU that the IMF could block financial support for Ukraine due to the member states' inability to agree on providing Kyiv with the reparations loan.
• It was also reported that the leadership of the European Commission and the Belgian government will meet on Friday 7 November to try to resolve the political deadlock over Russian assets.
• However, the EU stated that the issue of using frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine remains on the agenda, and a final decision will be made in December 2025.

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