At the recent EU summit, Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever's opposition prevailed against using frozen Russian sovereign assets for Ukraine aid, despite initial progress and pressure from Germany and the European Commission. Leaders opted instead for eurobonds funded by European taxpayers, boosting De Wever's European profile.
Bart De Wever, leader of the Flemish N-VA party and mayor of Antwerp before becoming Belgium's prime minister in June 2025 after prolonged coalition talks, has emerged as a key figure at EU summits. At the year-end Brussels meeting—building on initial progress toward mobilizing around 210 billion euros in frozen Russian assets held by Euroclear—he refused to support the plan despite calls from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
De Wever had indicated conditional openness beforehand, stating in parliament that Belgium would join if risks were fully mutualized. However, he held firm, leading to the proposal's rejection in favor of eurobonds backed by EU taxpayers.
Post-summit, De Wever emphasized: "We have shown that the voice of small and medium-sized countries counts too" and "Financial stability has won." This aligned with majority Belgian views wary of Kremlin reprisals and risks to Euroclear, a critical Belgian institution. Even as a former eurobonds skeptic, De Wever prioritized national interests.
The decision has elevated his standing across Belgium, including among French-speakers, amid shifting U.S. support uncertainties and Ukraine's funding needs. De Wever, initially reluctant for the premiership, now eyes longer-term leadership: "You can't fix this country in five years."
