Belarus not to get aid in European Neighbourhood Policy

All participants of the Eastern Partnership initiative expect for Belarus will get aid from Europe.

The European Union took a decision to increase financing the European Neighbourhood Policy, Brussels reports. The EU is to allocate more than 5.7 billion euros to its neighbours within three years (2011–2013).

As Radio Svaboda reports, the aid is provided for strengthening political cooperation and developing economic integration between the EU and the neighbouring countries. It is also planned to sponsor projects in such areas as climate change, transport, energy and environment.

The aid will be granted to all Eastern Partnership participants, expect for Belarus, as well as Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, and other countries. Libya has been included in the support programme of the European Neighbourhood Policy for the first time.

The European Neighbourhood Policy was launched in 2004. The ENP doesn’t extended to Belarus due to human rights violations in the country.