Brussels: The European Commission on Wednesday proposed that the European Union join as a founding member of the International Claims Commission, a body tasked with ensuring compensation for victims of the Russia-Ukraine war.
According to Kuwait News Agency, the Commission stated in a press release that the proposal must be adopted by Member States in the Council of the European Union and approved by the European Parliament. Once approved, the European Union would formally become a founding member of the International Claims Commission.
The Commission will operate under the umbrella of the Council of Europe, tasked with "reviewing, assessing, and determining claims for compensation for the damage, loss and injury caused by Russia in Ukraine and to its people." It is also responsible for determining the amount of compensation due in each case. Kaja Kallas, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, emphasized that Russia must bear the financial responsibility for the war's consequences, stating that "every Ukrainian citizen can already register compensation claims for damage, loss or injury thanks to the Claims Commission."
The European Union had previously signed the Convention establishing the Claims Commission in December 2025, alongside 35 countries, pledging up to one million euros to support its establishment within the framework of the Council of Europe. The Claims Commission's efforts build upon the Register of Damage, which was established in May 2023 to record eligible claims. Through this Register, Ukraine and its citizens can submit claims for various kinds of damage, including death, serious injury, violence, loss of housing or residence, and deportation of children.