Brussels, 19 June 2009
On 22 June Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy Benita Ferrero-Waldner will pay an official visit to Belarus. During her stay she will have meetings with President Alyaksandr Lukashenka, Foreign Minister Syarhei Martynau as well as with representatives of the opposition and civil society. The situation in Belarus and the ways in which the relationship between the EU and Belarus can develop in future if and when the authorities take further positive steps with regard to democratic freedoms, human rights and respect for independent media, will be central to discussions. The Eastern Partnership initiative and its potential for active involvement of Belarus especially in the multilateral framework will figure on the agenda as well. During her visit to Minsk, Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner will also announce the allocation of an assistance package of €10mio for the improvement of food safety and quality in Belarus.
Belarus is being visited by a delegation of European Commission, headed by the director of the department of trade defense measures of Directorate General of Foreign Trade, Stefan Depieper. Its main goal is to launch the procedure of the European Union's recognition of market status of Belarus' economy.
There are concerns the European Union's market crisis will dramatically scale back its ambitions for outreach programs with its neighbours -- including its Eastern Partnership. But Stefan Fuele, the EU's commissioner for enlargement and neighborhood policy, this week said the Eastern Partnership is alive and well.
On the 4th of September the European Commission has issued a Call for Proposals providing €19 million for migration and asylum cooperation along Eastern migratory routes, covering partners in the ENPI East. The proposed actions are part of a broader Call for Proposals (EuropeAid/128764/C/ACT/Multi) covering all countries, published under the European Commission’s «Thematic Programme of cooperation with third countries in the areas of migration and asylum».
An EU fact finding mission visited Minsk on 7-9 September 2009. The meeting took place in the framework of the EU Global Approach to Migration and the Eastern Partnership.
Belarus must carry out more political reforms before the European Union will agree to closer ties, EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said on Monday before a visit to Minsk.
