Year ago EU made 12 offers to Belarus

“The EU stands ready to develop a close relationship with Belarus and its people, as soon as the Belarusian government demonstrates respect for democratic values and for the basic rights of the Belarusian citizens,” it is aid in a statement of the European Commission’s Delegation to Ukraine and Belarus.

It’s noted in the statement that a year passed since the EC published a document “What the European Union could bring to Belarus”. It offers the country a full partnership in the frames of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) and lists the benefits of partnership between Belarus and the EU. In particular easier travel to the EU, work and study in the EU, increased business and trade opportunities in the EU, EU assistance for Belarus to carry-out the necessary reforms of the healthcare and education sectors, public administration and local government.

As the statement of the press service notes, the Belarusian authorities should “take concrete measures to respect democracy, human rights and the rule of law” to become a full member of the ENP. These measures include in particular the release of all political prisoners, respect for freedom of speech, media and of association, the holding of free and fair elections, the investigation of cases of disappeared persons and respect for the rights of minorities.

“One year after its release, the EU’s offer to Belarus remains valid” the statement stressed.

During a year the civil society has been spreading the information about the EU’s offers among Belarusians. The European March held in Minsk on October, 14, was an answer of the civil society to EU’s proposals. The EU leadership welcomed the reaction of the Belarusian people to the EU’s offers and noted that the authorities fulfilled none of them.

The European Union urges the Belarusian authorities:

1. respect the right of the people of Belarus to elect their leaders democratically – their right to hear all views and see all election candidates; the right of opposition candidates and supporters to campaign without harassment, prosecution or imprisonment; independent observation of the elections, including by Belarusian non-governmental organisations; their freedom to express their will and have their vote fairly counted;

2. respect the right of the people of Belarus to independent information, and to express themselves freely e.g. by allowing journalists to work without harassment or prosecution, not shutting down newspapers or preventing their distribution;

3. respect the rights of non-governmental organisations as a vital part of a healthy democracy – by no longer hindering their legal existence, harassing and prosecuting members of NGOs, and allowing them to receive international assistance;

4. release all political prisoners – members of democratic opposition parties, members of NGOs and ordinary citizens arrested at peaceful demonstrations or meetings;

5. properly and independently investigate or review the cases of disappeared persons;

6. ensure the right of the people of Belarus to an independent and impartial judicial system – with judges who are not subject to political pressure, and without arbitrary and unfounded criminal prosecution or politically-motivated judgements such as locking-up citizens who peacefully express their views;

7. end arbitrary arrest and detention, and ill-treatment;

8. respect the rights and freedoms of those Belarusian citizens who belong to national minorities;

9. respect the rights of the people of Belarus as workers – their right to join a trade union and the right of trade unions to work to defend the people’s rights;

10. respect the rights of the people of Belarus as entrepreneurs to operate without excessive

intervention by the authorities;

11. join the other nations of Europe in abolishing the death penalty;

12. make use of the support which the OSCE, the EU and other organisations offer to Belarus to help it respect the rights of its people.

The EU stands ready to renew its relationship with Belarus and its people, as soon as the Belarusian government demonstrates respect for democratic values and for the basic rights of the Belarusian people.