European leaders to decide on the use of Russian money for Ukraine support, German government moves to allow hunting of wolves, restaurants unlikely to pass VAT savings onto customers and more news on Thursday, December 18th.
Thursday’s top story: Europe decides on plan to spend Russian assets, Merz backs giving it to Ukraine
The heads of state and government of the 27 EU states want to decide on Thursday on the use of frozen Russian assets worth around €300 billion for financial and military support for Ukraine.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz has put himself at the forefront of the supporters of such a step. However, especially in Belgium, where most of the assets are stored, there are massive legal and political concerns.
Merz has stressed that it was a decision “of considerable importance”. “This question is about nothing more and nothing less than European security and sovereignty,” he said.
He added it would be a “clear signal to Russia” that the continuation of the war of aggression is pointless.
READ ALSO: Germany blames Russia for cyberattack on air safety, election interference
The assets — essentially cash, bonds and securities as well as private assets like yachts and real estate owned by sanctioned Russian billionaires — are said to be enough to fund military support for Ukraine for two years.
The plan, developed by Ursula von der Leyen’s EU Commission, is to let the EU borrow money based on those sanctioned Russian assets, and then pass it on to Ukraine in the form of loans. Russia would only be repaid if it makes reparations for the damage caused after the end of the war of aggression against Ukraine.
However, a major European securities depository has warned that seizing the money would damage Europe’s reputation as an international investment destination. Belgium, which is home to the securities depository in question, has so far blocked the move, and other countries, including Italy, Malta and Bulgaria have also previously warned against the move.
While brutal acts of violence continue in Ukraine’s eastern territories, debates over finances and funding in Europe have a tremendous impact on the outcome of the war. Also this week the EU agreed to completely stop buying Russian gas by 2027, a move which could seriously hinder Moscow’s military budget.
Government backs wolf hunting to manage wild packs
The German government on Wednesday backed legislation that would allow regular hunting of wolves in order to manage populations in areas with large packs.
Rising numbers of livestock losses attributed to wolves have provoked intense debate in Germany, pitting farmers against conservation advocates who hailed the resurgence of wolves in parts of the country as an environmental victory.
“The return of the wolf to Germany and Europe is a success of species conservation policy, but its increasing spread has also led to conflicts with livestock farming and with parts of the population,” said government spokesman Stefan Kornelius, shortly after the cabinet approved the draft law.
The legislation would allow German regional officials to create conservation plans that allow regular hunting seasons for wolves in areas with high wolf density and favourable conservation conditions. So-called “problem” wolves that breach fences may be shot under the plan.
READ ALSO: Europe set to allow more wolf hunting after protection status lowered
A wolf couple is pictured in the snow. Photo by: JONATHAN NACKSTRAND / AFP
Naturalists and wildlife experts argue that wolves are keystone species that are important to maintaining healthy ecosystems. Also that there are more effective, non-lethal methods for preventing wolves from preying on livestock, such as the use of electric fences and wolf dogs to protect flocks.
“Wolf populations are not controlled by biology. They’re controlled by politics now,” Norwegian wolf expert Runar Næss said in a report in Earth Island Journal. He cited similar wolf culls in Switzerland, Sweden and Norway.
The German draft law could open the door to wolf hunting seasons and potentially allowing wolves to be culled outside hunting season as well.
There are currently 209 known wolf packs in Germany, consisting of up to five to ten animals each, according to the environment ministry.
Restaurant prices not expected to fall despite VAT tax cuts
Given the government’s push to slash VAT taxes on food in the catering industry, from 19 to seven percent, customers might expect their bills for eating out could fall a bit in the coming year.
But even in the run-up to the tax cut, restaurateurs are dampening hopes that it would also reduce prices. This is shown by a survey of providers and associations by the German Press Agency.
“Our costs for staff and ingredients have risen massively,” a spokesperson for the pizza chain L’Osteria told dpa. “A blanket price reduction on the entire menu would not be seriously feasible from a business point of view….”
Instead, the chain suggests that if the tax cut comes as planned, they can avoid “a broad price increase.”
The fact that the tax cut is unlikely to reach customers comes as no surprise to Matthias Firgo from the tourism faculty of the Munich University of Applied Sciences.
“Tax cuts are usually passed on to consumers to a lesser extent than tax increases,” said the professor of economics.
READ ALSO: German households continue to feel the pinch as prices for daily goods rise
Germany opens new national drone defence centre
Germany opened a new national drone defence centre on Wednesday to enable better coordination between central and state governments, after a string of suspicious drone sightings in recent months.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said Russia is behind many of the sightings at sensitive locations in Germany and elsewhere in Europe such as airports, military bases and power plants.
A policeman holds an anti-drone cannon near the chancellery on December 14, 2025 in Berlin. (Photo by RALF HIRSCHBERGER / AFP)
Opening the new Joint Drone Defence Centre in Berlin, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said that while Germany is not at war, “we are the targets of hybrid war tactics, almost every day”, adding that drone sightings had risen in recent months.
European countries have repeatedly accused Russia of conducting “hybrid” attacks — unconventional attacks that can involve sabotage, disinformation campaigns, drone use and other disruptive tactics.
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The new centre will bring together Germany’s federal and 16 state police forces to create “a pool of data which will allow us… to develop predictive models able to determine the aggressors’ strategies, including those of foreign powers,” Dobrindt said.
Earlier this month, Germany also launched a new police unit focused on drone defence, which is eventually expected to employ more than 130 officers. German lawmakers this year gave the police broader authority to shoot down drones if necessary.
With reporting by DPA and AFP.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: thelocal.de
