Parliament slams repression and show trials in Belarus

This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. MEPs are alarmed about the ongoing crackdown in Belarus, including the jailing of Nobel laureates and journalists, and call for further sanctions against the country. On Wednesday, Parliament adopted a resolution condemning the Belarusian regime’s continued systematic repression of the country’s people and dissenting […]

Human rights breaches in Afghanistan, Belarus and Democratic Republic of Congo

This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. On Thursday, the European Parliament adopted three resolutions on the respect for human rights in Afghanistan, Belarus and Democratic Republic of Congo. Human rights situation in Afghanistan, especially the deterioration of women’s rights and attacks against educational institutions The staggering regression in women and […]

Ukraine: EU agrees to extend the scope of sanctions on Russia and Belarus

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission welcomes today’s agreement of Member States to adopt further targeted sanctions in view of the situation in Ukraine and in response to Belarus’s involvement in the aggression. In particular, the new measures impose restrictive measures on 160 individualsand amend Regulation (EC) […]

EU further steps up its support to the people of Belarus

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission will mobilise an additional €30 million to further strengthen its support to the people of Belarus. This new funding will complement and expand the already existing EU support for youth, independent media, small and medium-sized enterprises in exile, and culture. President […]

Asylum and return: Commission proposes temporary legal and practical measures to address the emergency situation at the EU’s external border with Belarus

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The Commission is today putting forward a set of temporary asylum and return measures to assist Latvia, Lithuania and Poland in addressing the emergency situation at the EU’s external border with Belarus. The measures will allow these Member States to set up swift and […]

Commission proposes partial suspension of EU–Belarus Visa Facilitation Agreement for officials of the Belarus regime

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the Commission is proposing to suspend certain articles of the EU’s Visa Facilitation Agreement with the Republic of Belarus. This decision follows the Belarusian regime’s attempts to destabilise the EU and its Member States by facilitating irregular migration for political purposes, as well […]

Belarus, climate action, COVID-19: MEPs assess EU summit results

This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. On Wednesday morning, Parliament debated the outcome of May’s special summit with European Council President Michel and Commission President von der Leyen. A large majority of members backed the firm and united response of the European Council to Belarus and endorsed the swift imposition […]

The European Union outlines a €3 billion economic support package to a future democratic Belarus

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the European Commission is presenting to the Council its outline for a comprehensive plan of economic support to a future democratic Belarus. The plan, of up to €3 billion, reflects the European Union’s commitment to support the Belarusian people’s wishes for a peaceful […]

MEPs call for suspension of the launch of the Belarus nuclear plant in Ostrovets

This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. MEPs voice serious concerns over the safety of the Ostrovets nuclear plant in Belarus and demand that its commercial launch be suspended. In a resolution adopted with 642 votes to 29, with 21 abstentions, Parliament criticises the hasty commissioning of the Ostrovets nuclear plant […]

Human rights breaches in Belarus, Ethiopia, and Algeria

This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. On Thursday, the European Parliament adopted three resolutions taking stock of the human rights situation in Belarus, Ethiopia, and Algeria. Human rights violations in Belarus, in particular the murder of Raman Bandarenka. Parliament condemns in the strongest possible terms the murder of Raman Bandarenka […]

The 2020 Sakharov Prize awarded to the democratic opposition in Belarus

This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. The democratic opposition in Belarus has been awarded the 2020 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. European Parliament President David Sassoli announced the laureates in the Brussels plenary chamber at noon on Thursday, following an earlier decision by the Conference of Presidents (President and […]

Visa facilitation and readmission: agreements with Belarus now in force

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the EU-Belarus visa facilitation and readmission agreements enter into force. These agreements represent an important step in strengthening the EU’s engagement with the Belarusian people and civil society. They will pave the way for improved mobility of citizens, contributing to closer links between […]

Visa Facilitation and Readmission: the European Union and Belarus sign agreements

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the European Union and Belarus signed a visa facilitation agreement and a readmission agreement. The agreements represent an important step in EU-Belarus relations and pave the way for improved mobility of citizens, contributing to closer links between the EU and its Eastern Partnership […]