News on the topic: EU-Belarus
18.07.2013 Belarus Foreign Minister visits EU: FIDH calls demonstration for human rights in Brussels
Belarus Foreign Minister, Vladimir Makey will be in Brussels on Monday 22 July after the EU lifted the travel ban against him in June, despite the absence of progress on the situation of human rights in Belarus and the fact that 12 political prisoners remain behind bars. FIDH is organising a demonstration at Rond-point Schuman on 22 July at 12:00 CET.
28.06.2013 Jacek Protasiewicz: The European Union hopes for the release of political prisoners
Vice-President of the European Parliament, Jacek Protasiewicz expressed confidence that now it is a time for the Belarusian officials to take steps necessary for the improvement of relations between the EU and Minsk. Above all, Belarusian authorities should free political prisoners. Minsk does not have time to spare to do that. The politician told to Palitviazni.info about the EU expectations.
24.06.2013 EU suspends entry ban against Makey
The Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union on Monday suspended the EU’s entry ban against Belarusian Foreign Minister Uladzimir Makey.
21.06.2013 Hannes Swoboda: Compromise is inadmissible in the issue of the release of political prisoners
Steps towards the Belarusian authorities may only be taken after the release of all political prisoners in Belarus.
20.06.2013 Belarusian human rights defenders discuss Paleckis’s report in Brussels
The European Parliament hosted yesterday a meeting of the Subcommittee on Human Rights to discuss the human rights situation in Belarus, and draft recommendations on the European Union policy in respect of Belarus, based on a report by the MEP Justas Paleckis.
14.06.2013 Council of Europe expects from Belarus more than moratorium on death penalty
Official Minsk also has to demonstrate progress on freedom of elections and the media.
14.06.2013 Statement by the spokespersons of EU High Representative Catherine Ashton and Commissioner Štefan Füle on the adoption by the Human Rights Council of a resolution on human rights in Belarus:
The spokespersons of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Commissioner Štefan Füle made today the following statement:
23.05.2013 Valiantsin Stefanovich: “The Belarusian authorities have not demonstrated a positive trend in implementing the EU conditions”
Valiantsin Stefanovich, Deputy Head of the Human Rights Center “Viasna”, does not share the optimism of the European Parliament’s Rapporteur on Belarus Justas Paleckis, who argues that the human rights situation in the country has improved recently, said he in an interview to the Interfax-West news agency.
22.05.2013 European Parliament's rapporteur recommends suspension of travel bans against Belarusian officials
Minsk, 21 May. Justas Paleckis, the European Parliament's rapporteur on Belarus, has recommended the suspension of the visa ban against key Belarusian officials.
08.05.2013 Catherine Ashton urges Belarus to introduce moratorium on death penalty
EU High Representative, Catherine Ashton today issued a statement condemning the death sentence imposed on a detainee of Mahiliou prison in Belarus after he murdered his cellmate.
23.04.2013 EU foreign ministers discuss Belarusian issue
It happened at their Monday meeting in Luxembourg.
16.04.2013 Valiantsin Stefanovich: “Brussels has no illusions in its assessment of the regime”
Such a conclusion was made by the deputy chairman of the Human Rights Center “Viasna” as a result of his recent visit to the capital of the European Union to participate in a conference on the dialogue on the modernization of Belarus and have a number of meetings.
28.03.2013 Natallya Pinchuk: Paleckis must show his hand
The situation of political prisoners does not and will scarcely change for the better. Natallya Pinchuk, the wife of political prisoner Ales Byalyatski, gave an interview to charter97.org.
20.03.2013 European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to consider release and rehabilitation of political prisoners in its activities in Belarus
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) published on 12 March a new strategy for the Republic of Belarus designed for the next three years. It is noteworthy that the development of the concept paper was contributed to by representatives of Belarusian civil society.
19.03.2013 Foreign ministry expresses hope that report by MEP Paleckis will help Belarus-EU dialogue
Minsk, 19 March. The Belarusian foreign ministry hopes that the report to be drawn up following the Minsk visit of a delegation of the European Parliament will help Belarus and the European Union step up their dialogue, the ministry's spokesman, Andrey Savinykh, told BelaPAN.
