Jacek Protasiewicz: Only opposition to represent Belarus in EURONEST

The decision on Belarus’ representation in the EURONEST is unchangeable: there will be no members of illegitimate Belarusian “parliament” there.

The Belarusian delegation to the EU-Neighborhood East Parliamentary Assembly (EURONEST PA) will include only representatives of opposition organizations and civil society. It has been stated by Jacek Protasiewicz, head of the European Parliament’s Delegation for Relations with Belarus in his interview with BelaPAN on March 13.

As said by him, on March 10 MEPs representing the European Parliament in the EURONEST PA after studying the findings of the Parliament’s delegation that stayed in Belarus on February 25-27, adopted a decision on the composition of the Belarusian delegation. After the Belarusian authorities rejected a composition formula whereby the country’s delegation to the EURONEST PA would include five members of the House of Representatives and five opposition politicians (5+5), the European Parliament decided that the delegation should not include Belarusian lawmakers altogether. 10 representatives of the opposition and the civil society are to participate. The delegation will have no right to vote at EURONEST sessions but will be able to make speeches, according to Mr. Protasiewicz.

He explained that on March 11 at the meeting of the European Parliament’s president with heads of 5 parliamentary factions of the European parliament decided to suspend execution of the decision on composition of the Belarusian delegation. Then mass media disseminated incorrect interpretation of this event, in which it was said that the decision on the make-up if the Belarusian delegation to the EURONEST PA had been suspended for a month. However, as underlined by Protasiewicz, the decision is unchangeable, only the date of its official announcement has been postponed.

“It has been done not because some changes are possible, but because Mr Buzek wants to hold consultations with heads of parliaments of all countries participating in the Eastern partnership except Belarus,” Protasiewicz explained. “This meeting is planned for March 24. Mr Buzek to invite them to Brussels to reiterate the fir position of the European parliament on Belarus, and for consultations on further development of the EURONEST”.

Protasiewicz noted that the composition of Belarus’ delegation has already been approved. It will include representatives of the United Civil Party, the “Spravedlivy Mir” (Just World) Belarusian Party of the Left, the Belarusian Social Democratic Hramada, the Belarusian Popular Front, the Movement for Freedom, the Rada (Council) of the Belarusian Intelligentsia, the Belarusian Association of Journalists, the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions, the Ekadom environmental group and the so-called “unofficial” Union of Poles in Belarus.

The delegation of the European Parliament in the EURONEST PA has passed its decision, the composition of the Belarusian delegation has been approved, and no changes are expected. Besides, no changes are expected in the decision that the delegation would not include members of the Belarusian illegitimate “parliament”, Jacek Protasiewicz emphasized.