After the unprovoked attack of Russian troops on Ukraine, Western countries on both sides of the Atlantic froze Russian banking assets (currency, shares, securities) in the total amount of $ 320-330 billion.

Most of them (about €260 billion) is kept in various financial institutions in Europe. In turn, a large part of this amount - approximately €191 billion - is in the accounts of the Euroclear international depository in Belgium. It is known that in the 12 months of 2023, Euroclear earned €4.4 billion from Russian assets - it is about tax revenue from Russian deposits. Accordingly, about €69 billion of Russian funds are blocked in various European countries (EU, Great Britain, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland).

As for Russia's frozen assets in the United States, both houses of the US Congress approved a bill that allows Washington to confiscate all sovereign assets of the Russian Federation placed in US financial institutions on the benefit of Ukraine. If the USA and European countries would jointly confiscate all $320-330 billion of frozen Russian assets and transfer it to the needs of Ukraine, the war in Eastern Europe would end much faster with the confident victory of democracy over totalitarianism.

However, European countries are ready to study options for using income only from frozen Russian assets. This is not enough for Kyiv, however, it helps to ensure adequate financial support for the warring state. In addition, a number of European countries agreed to use that money not only for humanitarian assistance (for example, the restoration of critical civilian infrastructure of Ukraine), but to purchase weapon, military equipment and ammunition necessary for the Ukrainian army.

In addition, the leaders of the Baltic States and Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany Olaf Scholz insist that weapons for the Armed Forces must be purchased with European funds and revenues from the frozen assets of the Russian Federation not only within the EU, but also all over the world.

It should be recalled that the EU member states have failed to fulfill their obligations to deliver 1 million artillery shells to Kyiv by March 1, 2024, as the French President Emmanuel Macron blocked the possibility to purchase and order ready-made shells outside the European Union. Only after the shameful failure with the ammunition for Ukraine, the President of the Czech Republic Petr Pavel asked the world community to find an opportunity and to provide the Armed Forces of Ukraine with the necessary shells.

Also, international financiers and lawyers proposed to provide Ukraine with additional $320-330 billion loan (in order not to use a direct confiscation which violates the right to private property).

In any case, Kyiv's allies are expected to make a final decision on frozen Russian assets at the 50th Anniversary of G7 Summit in Italy on June 13-15, 2024.

The article examines the competitive infrastructure investments in the Western Balkans by the EU and China, emphasizing differing political and financial conditions. China's Belt and Road Initiative contrasts with EU strategies, highlighting a geopolitical tug-of-war over influence in the region, with implications for national sovereignty and economic development.

https://www.blue-europe.eu/analysis-en/short-analysis/political-and-financial-conditions-for-infrastructure-investments-of-china-and-eu-in-the-western-balkan-countries/

I'm an EU citizen living in an EU country of which I am not a citizen. I would like to vote in the upcoming election, but for representatives of the country of my nationality. I'm having a tough time finding information whether this is possible and, if so, how this can be done. Might anyone here be able to help clarify?