The European Union refuses to acknowledge Alexander Lukashenko because the President of the Republic of Belarus. The corresponding assertion relating to the so-called inauguration was revealed on Thursday, September 24, press service EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell.
“The EU reiterates that the presidential elections in Belarus on August 9 were neither free nor fair. The European Union does not recognize their falsified results. Therefore, the so-called” inauguration “of September 23, 2020 and the new mandate announced by Alexander Lukashenko were deprived any democratic legitimacy “, – the document emphasizes.
The head of European diplomacy also pointed out that the past procedure “directly contradicts the will of a significant part of the Belarusian population, expressed in numerous, unprecedented and peaceful protests after the elections, and serves only to further deepen the political crisis in Belarus.” The European Union unequivocally supports the right of Belarusians to be represented by those whom they themselves choose in the new “inclusive, transparent and credible elections.”
As noted in the document, Brussels reiterates the hope that the official Minsk will hear their call to refrain from any further repression and violence, as well as to immediately and unconditionally release all detainees, including political prisoners. “In light of the current situation, the EU is reviewing its relations with Belarus,” Borrell summed up.
The variety of nations not recognizing Lukashenko as president is rising
For the seventh week in Belarus, protests in opposition to the falsified outcomes of the presidential elections, wherein, in line with the Central Election Commission, have been once more gained by Alexander Lukashenko, have been persevering with. Police are displaying unprecedented brutality in opposition to protesters. Against this background, Lukashenka’s undeclared inauguration befell the day earlier than. In addition to the European Union, Great Britain, Denmark, Germany, Canada, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, the USA, Ukraine, the Czech Republic and Estonia have already introduced their refusal to acknowledge Lukashenko as president of Belarus.
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History of relations between Belarus and the European Union
Stop in the beginning
Diplomatic relations between the Republic of Belarus and the European Union have been established in August 1992. In March 1995, a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) was signed in Brussels. But after the 1996 referendum, which sharply expanded the powers of the president, within the subsequent 1997, the EU suspended the ratification of the settlement and imposed sanctions on the highest Belarusian management.
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History of relations between Belarus and the European Union
Basis of disagreement
The variations between Brussels and Minsk are primarily based on completely different assessments of the outcomes of the Belarusian elections. Since 1996, the European Union doesn’t think about them democratic due to the inconsistency with worldwide norms. The 2004 referendum, which gave Alexander Lukashenko the chance to run for president with out restrictions, was not acknowledged as authorized both. The EU can also be not glad with human rights violations and repressions in opposition to activists and journalists.
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History of relations between Belarus and the European Union
Sanctions for reprisals
Relations between Minsk and Brussels have severely worsened after the dispersal of a protest rally on the day of the presidential election on December 19, 2010. The liberalization of 2007-2008 ended with the arrests of Lukashenka’s rivals and the trials of the protesters. The EU lifted many of the sanctions imposed on Belarus after that solely in February 2016 in response to the discharge of political prisoners.
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History of relations between Belarus and the European Union
Ambassadorial scandals
EU ambassadors have left Belarus twice. In June 1998, they have been expelled from their residences within the village of Drozdy below the pretext of renovating close to the Lukashenka’s residence. The diplomats returned solely in January 1999. In February 2012, 27 EU ambassadors once more left Minsk for two months as an indication of solidarity with the representatives of Poland and the EU, whom the Belarusian aspect supplied to go “to their capitals for consultations.”
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History of relations between Belarus and the European Union
Cooperation within the “Eastern Partnership”
Back in 2009, Belarus, together with Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, was invited to the EU’s Eastern Partnership (EaP) program. But it turned out that Minsk doesn’t apply for integration with Europe, is completely in pragmatic cooperation within the economic system and doesn’t intend to stick to one of many important priorities of the EaP – democratization.
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History of relations between Belarus and the European Union
Euronest – with out deputies from Belarus
The 1st Euronest Parliamentary Assembly of the EaP was held in May 2011 in Brussels with out parliamentarians from Belarus. They have been offended that along with 5 deputies from the Republic of Belarus they invited 5 representatives of civil society. At the sixth session of Euronest in Kiev on October 30 – November 1, 2017, in addition to at others, there was additionally no official delegation, however a big group of oppositionists was invited from Minsk.
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History of relations between Belarus and the European Union
Minsk just isn’t glad with the format
President Lukashenko didn’t go to the EaP summit within the fall of 2017, though he obtained an invite for the primary time after the lifting of sanctions. Official interpretation – the format of cooperation doesn’t suggest a excessive stage of illustration. The delegation was headed by the pinnacle of the Belarusian Foreign Ministry Vladimir Makei. Observers clarify the refusal to journey by the dearth of bonuses, which Lukashenka hoped for, and by concern of Moscow’s anger.
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History of relations between Belarus and the European Union
There is cooperation, however no contract
Belarus is the one one of many 6 EaP nations that doesn’t have a cooperation settlement with the EU. Relations are nonetheless ruled by the 1989 settlement between the USSR and the European Economic Community. Minsk want to signal the Partnership Priorities program with Brussels. This settlement is only a framework doc and, in contrast to the affiliation settlement, doesn’t set up deep types of interplay.
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History of relations between Belarus and the European Union
Economic partnership
For Belarus, the European Union is the second most necessary buying and selling associate after Russia. The EU accounts for a 3rd of the nation’s whole commerce. Mainly oil merchandise are exported. Trade with the EU within the 1st quarter of 2017 elevated by 5.6% in comparison with the identical interval final yr, to $ 2.9 billion. The constructive stability is $ 302 million. True, over the earlier 3 years, the amount of commerce fell by virtually half.
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History of relations between Belarus and the European Union
Help from the European Union
From 2014 to 2017, the EU assist package deal for Belarus amounted to 91.5 million euros. Joint tasks are financed within the discipline of environmental safety, vitality, and border growth. The National Human Rights Plan, adopted with EU help, laid the groundwork for inner reforms. Negotiations on visa facilitation and readmission are underway. There is an Erasmus + program for college students and lecturers.
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History of relations between Belarus and the European Union
Simplification of the visa regime
On April 9, 2020, President of Belarus Lukashenko signed a legislation, the adoption of which accomplished the method of ratification of the settlement with the European Union on visa facilitation. Among different issues, it supplies for lowering the price of a Schengen visa for Belarusians to 35 euros and setting the utmost interval for making a call on issuing a visa – 10 days.
Author: Galina Petrovskaya
