A scheduled visit by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to Oslo has been abruptly cancelled, replaced by a late-evening trip to Belgium for a private dinner with Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The shift in itinerary, announced by a government spokesperson on Thursday, signals a potential intensification of efforts surrounding a contentious proposal to utilize frozen Russian central bank assets to aid Ukraine.
The undisclosed agenda for the Belgian meeting is widely speculated to center on the highly debated plan to repurpose billions of euros held in Belgian financial institutions. Brussels has, to date, refrained from authorizing the initiative, citing concerns about potential legal challenges and significant financial liabilities. This position represents a notable divergence from the stance of both Chancellor Merz and Commission President von der Leyen, who have been actively pushing for the plan’s implementation.
The timing of the canceled Oslo trip underscores the urgency surrounding the issue and suggests a concerted effort to overcome Belgian resistance. Critics argue that Brussels’ hesitation reflects a broader reluctance within Europe to take bold steps that could further escalate tensions with Russia, despite the escalating needs of Ukraine. The private nature of the discussions raises questions about the level of transparency surrounding these negotiations and whether a significant policy shift might be engineered outside of formal parliamentary channels. The divergent approaches between Germany, the European Commission and Belgium highlight persistent fractures within the EU’s unified front regarding support for Ukraine, potentially hindering tangible progress on critical aid packages.
