MEP Corien Wortmann-Kool: European Union does not see serious changes in Belarus

Representatives of the European Parliament note that so actions follow after promises of Belarusian authorities to improve human rights situation in the country.

The European Union does not see any serious changes in Belarus. It has been stated in an interview to BelaPAN by Vice-Chairwoman of the European People’s Party Group in the European Parliament Corien Wortmann-Kool who took part in the European Forum in Minsk on November 14.

“The main aim of the EU is to bring European values and human rights to Belarus. Not only economic cooperation is important for the EU, but common values,” she stated. As said by the member of the European Parliament, the EU is to have close relations with Belarus only after they see “Belartusians live free”.

Corien Wortmann-Kool believes that the Belarusian authorities declare the same goals: rapprochement with the European Union and democratization: “It is certainly a right direction, but changes should follow after the words,” the deputy said. To her mind, the Belarusian authorities “have all chances” to embark on the path of democratic changes.

Wortmann-Kool informed that the EU offers Minsk to include the equal number of representatives of oppositional parties to the Belarusian delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Eastern Partnership policy (EuroNEST). “The European parliament is a democratically elected structure and wants to work with all political forces of Belarus, and not only with those who are in power. If the government says that they want changes, they can prove that by sending a mixed delegation to the EuroNEST,” she said.

Belarus is a European country with European future, the MEP from the Netherlands believes.