Speech eurocommissaris Füle over de druk van Rusland op landen van het Oostelijk Partnerschap (en)

European Commission

European Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy

Statement on the pressure exercised by Russia on countries of the Eastern Partnership

European Parliament Plenary, in Strasbourg

11 September 2013

Opening remarks

Chairman, Honourable Members,

Thank you for this timely opportunity to discuss European Union policy towards Belarus. I believe that there is broad convergence between our analysis and visions. Your recommendations will help our further deliberations on how to approach the difficult situation we face with this neighbouring country.

The contrast between our dynamic relations with some Eastern Partnership countries and the long-standing stagnation of our relations with Belarus is stark.

This regrettable situation is of Belarus' own doing. The European Union maintains its offer to Belarus, but it is a conditional one. Political prisoners must be released and rehabilitated, and there must be progress on human rights.

The ball remains in Belarus' court. But I am afraid that there is little progress to report.

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  The last time a political prisoner was given early release was September last year. Seven political prisoners are still in prison and we are receiving most worrying reports concerning their detention conditions (including the lack of access to lawyers and restricted contacts with the families).

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  It is also greatly disturbing that on the European continent we still have a country where a moratorium on the death penalty is far away.

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  The petty harassment of civil society activists and the oppression of regime critics continue unabated.

So we have no choice but to maintain our policy of targeted restrictive measures. European Union sanctions continue to remind the Belarusian authorities that their actions violating basic principles to which Belarus adhered in the context of the Eastern Partnership have consequences. Similarly, the lack of respect for human rights and basic freedoms still keeps Belarus far from membership in the Council of Europe. Against this background, we will shortly launch our annual review of the restrictive measures which expire in October.

We focus our efforts and find ways of supporting the Belarusian people. During the last two years, the European Union has strengthened its assistance and engagement with Belarusian civil society and with the Belarusian public at large. In particular, the European Union has intensified its dialogue with civil society, including via the European Dialogue on Modernisation.

This Dialogue has the potential to become a channel for communication both with wider Belarusian society and with the authorities. We are working towards this objective with the Belarusian Foreign Ministry and with the support of Belarusian civil society.

Since Foreign Minister Makey's appointment, Minsk has taken a number of diplomatic steps to improve relations with the European Union. This includes, for example, the re-opening of the Swedish Embassy in Minsk. We welcome this, and within the constraints which we face, we are doing what we can to enhance our cooperation in certain areas. These include for example our technical dialogues on economic and financial issues and the environment.

However, it is regrettable that after two years, there has been no reply from the Belarusian authorities to our offer to launch negotiations for a visa facilitation agreement.

Of course, as soon as Belarus takes the necessary steps, we can resume work on our Joint Interim Plan, paving the way for the full participation of Belarus in the Eastern Partnership. We look forward to that day, and stand ready to offer our full support for a comprehensive reform process in Belarus.

Thank you.

Closing remarks

Chairman, Honourable Members,

Let there be no doubt that the situation in Belarus in terms of human rights and democracy remains of serious concern.

Against this background, I feel that the European Union policy of critical engagement towards Belarus remains valid. Unfortunately, there have been no major developments in Belarus so far that warrant a change of the established European Union policy of being clear about our concerns, applying targeted restrictive measures and reaching out to Belarusian society.

European Union-Belarus relations continue to be far below their potential. At the same time, there are formidable possibilities for the development of our relations once the political circumstances are the right ones. The European Parliament's report contains much food for thought in this regard.

Belarus can still use the opportunity and give us grounds to look at this country more positively in the context of the forthcoming Eastern Partnership summit, where we hope to take a qualitative leap forward with our partners in the Eastern Partnership.

I call upon the authorities of Belarus to take the necessary steps and bring Belarus back to the heart of Europe where it belongs. The more openness to political and economic reform, the more engagement you will find from the European Union.

Thank you.