Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1541988
14 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 14 DECEMBER 2025 NEWS Malta questions plan to use Russian assets for Ukraine Malta, Belgium, Bulgaria, and Italy call on European Commission to explore alternatives to funding Ukraine through frozen Russian assets MALTA has joined three other European Union member states in calling for alternative options to using frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine. THE country, alongside Bel- gium, Bulgaria, and Italy, urged the European Commission to explore other avenues before next week's European Council summit, where leaders are ex- pected to decide on the matter. The four countries have asked the Commission and Council to continue examining different approaches that comply with EU and international law whilst addressing Ukraine's financial requirements, according to a document seen by MaltaToday. The Commission wants EU member countries to reach an agreement at the summit that would free up billions of euros from Russian reserves held at Euroclear bank in Belgium. The funds would support Ukraine's economy in the years following the war. On Friday, European Union governments agreed to freeze around €210 billion worth of Russian assets held in Europe indefinitely. Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned the move as theft, whilst Russia's central bank said it would sue Euroclear, the Belgian bank where many of the frozen assets are held. The document, signed by the four countries, argues that de- cisions should have been dis- cussed by the European Council before any final agreement is reached. The countries suggested the Commission examine alterna- tives that would involve more predictable outcomes and carry fewer dangers, whilst still meet- ing Ukraine's economic needs. They proposed an EU loan facil- ity or interim solutions as possi- ble options. The four member states raised concerns about using Article 122 on the Functioning of the European Union for the prohi- bition of transfer outlined in the proposed Council Regulation. They warned that the legal provision carries wide-ranging consequences across legal, fi- nancial, procedural, and insti- tutional areas that could extend well beyond this particular situ- ation. Despite their reservations, the countries said they would vote in favour of the move to main- tain EU unity. However, they emphasised that their vote does not determine any final decision on using Russian frozen assets, which must be taken at leaders' level. JULIANA ZAMMIT jzammit@mediatoday.com.mt Russian President Vladimir Putin Overpopulation a challenge arising from government's success, Alex Muscat says OVERPOPULATION is a chal- lenge which arises from govern- ment success, and while it needs addressing, does not require turn- ing radically changing the eco- nomic model, Labour MP Alex Muscat has said. Interviewed on TVM's XTRA by Saviour Balzan, Muscat rejected the notion that Malta is too dense- ly populated, comparing it to Par- is, saying it makes more sense to compare it to a large European city than a country. Malta has a population density of 1,700 per sq.m while Paris has 20,000 peo- ple per sq.m. On the other hand, National- ist MP Ryan Callus insisted on the contrary, saying the problem needs addressing through a La- bour Market Study which would help identifying issues. The study, Callus argued, would help identify economic niches which are more labour intensive, while pushing others which aren't. "Clyde Caruana saying we need a population of 800,000 to sus- tain this economic growth is what worries me," Callus said. Muscat replied to this comment by saying this is attainable by hav- ing proper management of the people in Malta and the ongoing investments by the government. The Labour MP also took a jab at recent comments made by Op- position spokesperson for finance Adrian Delia, accusing him of fuelling xenophobia when speak- ing about overpopulation, and was set on turning Maltese people against foreigners. Callus retorted by insisting Delia was speaking about numbers and not foreigners. Government consultant David Spiteri Gingell was also inter- viewed on XTRA, saying another factor which contributes to over- population is the upward mobility of Maltese people. He explained that through social changes, most Maltese people have higher aspi- rations and are not interested in low-skill jobs, opening the door for these vacancies to be taken up by foreigners. ILENIA DEBONO ldebono@mediatoday.com.mt Labour MP Alex Muscat (centre) and Nationalist MP Ryan Callus (right) interviewed on XTRA (Photo: James Bianchi/MaltaToday)