EU Discusses BelNPP

The EU will make the partnership agreement with Minsk dependent on the Astravets nuclear power plant.

The EU will be ready to sign a new document on relations with Belarus (the so-called "Partnership Priorities") only in case of reaching an agreement on the Belarusian nuclear power plant (BelNPP) under construction in Astravets. This was stated by the current European Commissioner for Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement, Johannes Hahn, speaking at a meeting of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the European Parliament in Brussels on Thursday, November 7.

The main topic of the meeting was the future of the EU enlargement, but the MEPs also asked Hahn about relations with Belarus. "Our goal is to complete the work on the "Partnership Priorities". In this case, the result depends on whether we find a solution for the NPP in Astravets," - the European Commissioner said.

As is known, Brussels and Minsk are negotiating on the document entitled "Partnership Priorities". The European Union says that this agreement, designed to create a new framework for cooperation, marks a "new stage" in relations with Belarus.

The construction of the nuclear power plant in Belarus causes discontent in Lithuania, as the plant is located 50 kilometers from its capital, Vilnius. The first power unit of the BelNPP will be launched in 2020.

Johannes Hahn will take over a different portfolio in the next European Commission, and another European Commissioner will deal with the neighborhood policy. However, we should not expect a change in the EU position on the issue of "Partnership Priorities" and the BelNPP, as the EU's foreign policy is determined by its member-states, which take decisions unanimously.