Peter Van Elsuwege
@vanelsuwege.bsky.social
1.3K followers 370 following 140 posts
Professor of European Union Law and Jean Monnet Chair, Ghent European Law Institute (GELI), UGent; Visiting Professor College of Europe https://www.ugent.be/re/epir/en/researchgroups/european-law/department/staff/petervanelsuwege
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vanelsuwege.bsky.social
The idea of using frozen Russian assets is floating for a long time - raising questions about its legal and political feasibility.

A creative solution (a 'Reparation Loan' as an alternative to confiscation) is now on the table, even though significant legal questions remain #Euroclear #Ukraine
jorgeliboreiro.bsky.social
🇩🇰 Mette Frederiksen endorses €140 billion "Reparations Loan" for Ukraine:

"There are some legal questions that have to be asked. I'm confident that we will find a way through this, but I think the whole idea of using the (Russian) frozen assets, I think it's a good idea." #EUCO
Reposted by Peter Van Elsuwege
nvondarza.bsky.social
For EU institutional nerds - in his invitation letter to todays informal European Council @eucopresident.consilium.europa.eu at the margins calls for a bigger role of defence ministers in the Council.

A specific Council on Defence is long overdue and would help link MoDs to all the EU projects.
vanelsuwege.bsky.social
The 'reparation loan' intends to overcome the legal issues regarding the use of frozen Russian Central Bank assets with a rather complex construction, to be legally based on Art. 31 (2) TEU - exceptionally allowing for QMV on #CFSP matters... www.euractiv.com/news/why-the...
Why the EU's ‘reparation loan’ for Ukraine faces default | Euractiv
The ECB and key capitals are deeply sceptical about an audacious Commission scheme to hijack Russian assets to bankroll Ukraine
www.euractiv.com
vanelsuwege.bsky.social
Important informal meeting in Copenhagen today, focussing on European #security and #Ukraine, with discussions about the innovative 'reparation loan' on the table.... www.consilium.europa.eu/media/ckzgro...
www.consilium.europa.eu
vanelsuwege.bsky.social
But difficult to realize since it requires an amendment of the negotiating framework ... adopted by unanimity in the Council.
vanelsuwege.bsky.social
Follow up of the KS/KD saga : a General Court order dismissed the action #EUlaw curia.europa.eu/jcms/jcms/p1...
curia.europa.eu
vanelsuwege.bsky.social
On the QMV threshold, check the Council voting calculator:
www.consilium.europa.eu/en/council-e...
vanelsuwege.bsky.social
About the Commission proposal to suspend the trade-related aspects of the Association Agreement with #Israel (by QMV) and #sanctions against extremist ministers, settlers and Hamas (by unanimity) ec.europa.eu/commission/p...
vanelsuwege.bsky.social
Significant judgment - #CJEU annuls a Commission decision approving aid from #Hungary for the development of new nuclear reactors under a construction contract with a Russian company that was awarded without public tender procedure #EUlaw curia.europa.eu/jcms/upload/...
curia.europa.eu
Reposted by Peter Van Elsuwege
nvondarza.bsky.social
Almost rare these days - a statement regarding Russia signed by all 27 EU member states, thus including Hungary. This explicitly names Russia as the aggressor regarding Poland, vows further support to Ukraine and declared full solidarity with Poland. I guess not even Orban dared block this.
kajakallas.bsky.social
We condemn in the strongest terms Russia’s intentional violation of the airspace of an EU member state using drones.

This aggressive and reckless act is a serious escalation by Russia.

My statement on behalf of the EU27 ↓
europa.eu/!pn8NBC
Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the unprovoked violation of the EU’s airspace by Russia
Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the unprovoked violation of the EU’s airspace by Russia.
europa.eu
vanelsuwege.bsky.social
The General Court upholds the restrictive measures against Roman Abramovich (T-1195/23) #EUlaw #sanctions curia.europa.eu/juris/docume...
CURIA - Documents
curia.europa.eu
vanelsuwege.bsky.social
Important news at #SOTEU : the European Commission will propose #EU sanctions against #Israel
vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu
What is happening in Gaza has shaken the conscience of the world.

Man-made famine can never be a weapon of war. This must stop.

EU aid to Gaza far outweighs that of any other partner.

But of course, Europe needs to do more.

Here are measures for a way forward ↓
vanelsuwege.bsky.social
Waarom de uitspraak in zaak C-769/22 niet alleen voor Hongarije belangrijk wordt ; zie alvast de opinie van AG Capeta curia.europa.eu/jcms/upload/...
curia.europa.eu
vanelsuwege.bsky.social
About #sanctions against #Israel: Belgium announced an import ban on products from illegal settlements, a review of public procurement policies with Israeli companies and restrictions on consular assistance to Belgians living in illegal settlements ...
www.politico.eu/article/belg...
Belgium to recognize Palestine, sanction Israel
Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot said the recognition would happen only after Hamas releases all Israeli hostages and no longer manages Palestine.
www.politico.eu
vanelsuwege.bsky.social
When politics trumps (WTO) law ... #EU #USA #WTO
politico.eu
The US and the EU have finally firmed up a trade deal that sets a 15 percent baseline US tariff.

Now, a more awkward task will be for Brussels to show the world it didn’t break the very rules of international trade that it helped to craft.
Trump deal threatens EU’s image as champion of rules-based trade
The fragile tariff truce has spared Europe from Trump’s wrath and kept him on board on Ukraine so far — but at a reputational cost.
ow.ly
vanelsuwege.bsky.social
Puzzled about Von der Leyen's presence at the meeting in view Article 15 (6) TEU, which allocates the task of external representation in #CFSP matters to the European Council President...
eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/treaty/t...
Reposted by Peter Van Elsuwege
vjosamusliu.bsky.social
Applications for the doctoral course "Belarus as a Crucial Case of Wider Regional and Global Trends: Perspectives on Politics, Society, History, Law and Culture" are open until October 1.

🌍 Ghent University, Belgium
🗓️ 21-24 October 2025

All details are here: www.ugent.be/ps/politieke...
vanelsuwege.bsky.social
More on the Commission's proposal for a partial suspension of Israel's association to Horizon Europe: ec.europa.eu/commission/p...
vanelsuwege.bsky.social
More than 10 years after Opinion 2/13, the European Commission decided to request a new #CJEU Opinion on the compatibility of the revised draft agreement on the EU's accession to the #ECHR with #EUlaw
www.euractiv.com/section/poli...
Commission seeks EU court nod for ECHR bid after years of gridlock - Euractiv
Commission moves to break 15-year impasse on EU’s accession to Strasbourg-based human rights court
www.euractiv.com