Updated at 17:53,27-03-2024

Belarus Not to Benefit from Eastern Partnership Due to Government Policy

Euroradio

Easing the visa regime with Belarus is a political issue, EU Commissioner for Neighborhood Policy Stefan Fuhle said in a statement.

The commissioner met with journalists from the Eastern Partnership member states on May 24 in the Polish city of Sopot during the summit of the foreign ministers from the Eastern Partnership member nations.

The Charter'97 reports that Fuhle noted that the human rights situation in Belarus has deteriorated significantly over the past 6 months. This was one of the reasons that Belarus today is lagging behind in the program, according to the commissioner. EU officials have not discussed with the Belarusian authorities the agreement on associated membership or free-trade zone or simplified visa procedures.

The European Union is currently in talks with Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan on easing the visa regime - all the Eastern Partnership countries apart from Belarus.