22:15 22 October 2020
EU comprehensively reviews its relations with Belarus
European Parliament believes that negotiations on the EU-Belarus partnership priorities must be suspended pending a new, free and fair presidential election.
On Wednesday, the European Parliament adopted a set of recommendations on how the EU should reassess its relations with Belarus by 602 votes to 44 and 44 abstentions. This assessment summarizes the events that took place both before and after the rigged presidential elections that took place in the country on August 9 this year and which led to a social uprising against the present regime.
“Belarus is in our immediate vicinity; its citizens share our European values and strive for the same freedoms and civil rights as EU citizens. They want to be decision makers in their own country. The European Union cannot be a passive observer. Active measures must be taken to prevent a hybrid or direct intervention by Russia in Belarus. I call on the German Presidency of the Council to lead the diplomatic efforts to prevent any interference and to support the democratic aspirations of the Belarusian people," rapporteur Petras Auštrevičius (Renew Europe, LT), said.
(WBJ)
