EurNest to start work without Belarus

The Conference of presidents of the European Parliament’s factions has adopted a decision to call the first session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the EU Eastern Partnership (Euronest) without participation of the Belarusian delegation.

“I hope it is just an intermediate state, and not a final decision. MPs from Belarus are welcome, but only after the free election, recognized by the whole world, become a reality. We need to see a democratic process there”, the European Parliament Chairman Jerzy Buzek said commenting on this decision, as quoted by PAP.

Earlier it was supposed that 60 European deputies and 10 representatives from Georgia, Ukraine, Armenia, Azerbajan, Moldova and Belarus would participate in the work of the Euronest PA. Different variants for the Belarusian delegation make-up have been considered: to invite opposition only, or to invite five representatives from both the parliament and non-parliamentary opposition. However these ideas have not been understood both by the official Minsk and by a number of countries, the EU neighbours. Because of this discord the Euronest session has not taken place yet.

On February 10 the decision to start Euronest without representatives of Belarus was taken by the European Parliament unanimously on February 10, BelaPAN reports.

Nevertheless, Europe is going to continue supporting the Belarusian civil society, despite the steps taken, said Busek.

A meeting of the Euronest PA is scheduled for March.