By Jan Strupczewski

BRUSSELS, Dec 11 (Reuters) – European Union governments want to agree on Friday to freeze Russian central bank assets immobilised in Europe for as long as necessary, replacing the need for a vote to renew the freeze every six months, EU diplomats said.

The move is the ‍basis for the EU’s plan to use the Russian sovereign assets in the EU for a loan to Ukraine that would keep it financed in 2026 and 2027, allowing the country to continue to defend itself against Russia’s invasion.

The European Commission has proposed using a provision of the EU treaty, Article 122, to keep the assets frozen indefinitely.

ELIMINATE RISK OF VETO

The provision gives EU governments a free hand to adopt whatever measures they see necessary, by qualified majority, to address a ‌difficult

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