French finance minister Eric Lombard told France Info radio Tuesday morning that France is against using frozen Russian assets to finance Europe’s defense capacity-building.
When asked if France still opposes using frozen Russian assets to finance Europe’s defense investment and aid to Ukraine, Lombard said that France believes these assets “belong mainly to Russia’s central bank.”
According to him, Europe is not “in war” with Russia, seizing frozen Russian assets as a contribution “would be contrary to the international agreements that France and Europe signed.”
On Monday, during a debate at the French National Assembly, French foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot also affirmed that the French government didn’t consider seizing frozen Russian assets a good idea, as it would pose “great financial risk” to European countries.
French President Emmanuel Macron proposed on Sunday that the European Union (EU) member states should raise their defense spending to 3 to 3.5 percent of the EU’s total gross domestic product (GDP).
Speaking to the French daily Le Figaro after participating in a defense summit in London, Macron said on Sunday that European Union (EU) member states should invest “heavily” in European defense to prepare for America’s eventual disengagement and to ensure Europe’s security.
The French president suggested raising considerable amounts together through joint loans or even the European Stability Mechanism. “We probably need initially 200 billion euros (208 billion U.S. dollars) to kick off,” he added. Enditem
Source: Xinhua
Share Us
