Stefan Fuele: European Union to increase support of civil society in Belarus

The speed and scope of relations of the European Union with the authorities is to depend on the progress in holding elections in Belarus.

The European Union is to increase support of the civil society in Belarus. It has been stated by the Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Stefan Fuele, who delivered a speech in the Centre for Eastern Studies (OSW) in Warsaw, Poland, the press-service of the European Instrument of Neighbourhood and Partnership, BelaPAN reports.

Adherence of the European Union to the basic values explains why the EU policy in the framework of the Eastern Partnership has some limitations, Fuele stated. As an example he offered Belarus, where the EU cannot participate in reforms in fully without clear progress of this country towards democracy and respect to human rights.

“On the other hand, we cannot decline from participation. The EU support of the civil society in Belarus will be increased, and we shall work to promote human contacts,” Fuele said.

The European Commissioner explained that such contacts would help the EU to create a basis for more ambitious moves, possible under certain circumstances.

The speed and scope of participation of the EU in the agenda of the reforms is to depend on the progress of holding the election in Belarus, Fuele noted.

The speech of the European Commissioner named “The European Union and East Europe: Post-crisis rapprochement” was dedicated to the relations of the EU and Russia, changes in Ukraine and the issue of convergence in Eastern policy, related to the Eastern Partnership.”