EU-Belarus relations are currently governed by the Conclusions of the Foreign Affairs Council   as last set out on 15 October 2012. 

Ratification of an EU-Belarus Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (negotiated in 1995) has been frozen since 1997 in response to the political situation in the country – most recently the violations of electoral standards in Belarus' presidential elections (2010) and the ensuing crackdown on civil society, political opposition and independent media.

The EU is committed to a policy of critical engagement towards Belarus, through:

• technical dialogue and within the multilateral track of the Eastern Partnership initiative (so far without any formal response from the Belarusian authorities)
• restrictive measures targeted against those responsible for the violations of electoral standards, crackdowns and violations of human rights, as well as those supporting the regime or drawing benefit from it
• support to civil society and victims of repression
• an offer to start negotiations on visa facilitation and readmission agreements to the benefit of the public at large (without any response from the Belarusian authorities)
• dialogue with Belarusian society on the reforms needed to modernise Belarus and on the potential for developing relations with the EU (including possible EU financial support).

 

Assistance for Belarus

Belarus is covered by the European Neighbourhood Policy but, in view of the political situation, no action plan is yet in place.

Belarus is also a member of the Eastern Partnership initiative, but participates only in its multilateral track.   

Assistance for Belarus is granted under the Country Strategy Paper 2007‑13  and focuses on:

• supporting the needs of the population
• directly and indirectly supporting democratisation
• mitigating the effects of the self-isolation of Belarus on its society.