The European Parliament welcomes the constructive and active participation of Belarus in the Eastern Partnership, an initiative aimed at strengthening democracy and the rule of law and promoting European cooperation; regards Belarus's participation in the Eastern Partnership as a way forward to promote further dialogue with the European Union and deeper rapprochement based on a readiness and commitment on the part of Belarus to attain these objectives; welcomes trilateral cooperation between Lithuania, Belarus and Ukraine in the framework of the Eastern Partnership, with priority given to projects on integrated border management, transport and transit, the common cultural and historical heritage, social security and energy security;
Urges Belarus to continue to cooperate with the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights at the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE/ODIHR) on the electoral code and expects the new Electoral Law to be in line with international standards and to enter into the force before the local elections planned for spring 2010.
Insists that clear and significant progress towards democratisation is expected within the next year in order for the sanctions to be completely lifted and that the conditions for full re-engagement with Belarus should be
The European Parliament and five countries involved in the European Union's Eastern Partnership program consider holding the founding conference for the EU-Neighborhood East Parliamentary Assembly (Euronest) without Belarus' representatives.
In regards to the ongoing EU assessment of the political developments in Belarus, I would like to remind that the recommendations of the Final report of the European Parliament Ad-hoc delegation to Minsk as of 25-27 February draw special attention to the importance of the way the local elections in Belarus on 25 April 2010 would be conducted. Regrettably all the sources reported that the elections did not meet the democratic standards. In addition to several vulnerabilities and inconsistencies in the electoral procedures, I would like to particularly condemn the way the electoral committees were formed as well as the process of votes count.
"I am very concerned about the recent worsening of the human rights situation in Belarus, we see no improvements but a clear deterioration, and this is deeply worrying me", Jerzy Buzek said. Jerzy Buzek deplores the fact that the local elections on 25 April 2010 were disappointing and did not bring any visible improvements in how elections are held both in terms of transparency and meeting democratic standards. President Buzek said: "I call on the Belarus authorities to stop immediately all repression and intimidation of civil society groups and to get back on the way to democratisation."
The European Parliament should engage with Belarus in a dialogue on the principles of equality and mutual respect, a Belarusian lawmaker said when meeting with Jean-Claude Frecon, a member of the Senate of France and vice president of the Council of Europe’s Congress, in Minsk on Thursday.
This autumn, the EU will hold high-level conference to discuss the situation in Belarus and the further strategy of building relations with Minsk. As the head of the European Parliament delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of EU Eastern Partnership (Euronest), Christian Vigenin, noted, it will be attended by representatives of the European Commission, EU Council and European Parliament.
Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament tackled the further development in the EU- Belarus relations. The discussions reviewed the post election situation and the European roadmap for Belarus. "We encourage Belarus to take further and bolder steps towards democracy, respect for human rights and rule of law, with a view of normalisation of relations between the EU and this country." - said Justas Paleckis, rapporteur on Belarus.
The European Parliament has condemned the police action and legal measures taken against the Union of Poles in Belarus and the attempts by the authorities to impose a new leadership on the Polish community. MEPs also urge the Belarus authorities to release political activists such as Andrei Bandarenko and prisoners of conscience such as Ivan Mikhailau and Aristyom Dubski.
Brussels, 9 December 2009. In my capacity of a Chairman of the European Delegation for Relations with Belarus, I observe with deep concern a regress in human rights situation in Belarus, namely - the recent intensification of politically-motivated intimidations of youth activists for their political and civic activities.
