Belarus And The Eu: A Complex Relationship

Belarus, officially the Republic of Belarus, is not a member of the European Union. The country has had a tumultuous relationship with the EU, with relations deteriorating after Alexander Lukashenko became the Belarusian leader in 1994. The EU has since imposed sanctions on Belarus multiple times due to its authoritarian regime, human rights violations, and political repression. Despite this, Belarus has participated in EU projects such as the Eastern Partnership and maintained bilateral relations with the Union. Belarus borders three EU member states: Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia.

Belarus is not a member of the EU

Diplomatic relations between Belarus and the EU were established in August 1992, a year after the European Economic Community recognised Belarusian independence. In March 1995, a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement was signed between Belarus and the EU in Brussels. However, the EU chose not to ratify this agreement.

Since then, relations between Belarus and the EU have been strained. The EU has imposed sanctions on Belarus multiple times, citing concerns about authoritarian and anti-democratic practices, human rights violations, and political repression. In 2021, Belarus suspended its participation in the EU's Eastern Partnership.

Despite not being a member of the EU, Belarus maintains some bilateral relations with the Union. Belarus is part of two EU projects: the Eastern Partnership and the Baku Initiative. Belarus has also signed agreements with the EU, such as the Visa Facilitation and Readmission Agreements in 2020. However, the overall relationship between Belarus and the EU remains tense and marked by ongoing political disagreements.

Belarus has a bilateral relationship with the EU, participating in the Eastern Partnership and Baku Initiative

Belarus and the European Union (EU) established mutual relations in 1991 when the European Economic Community recognised Belarus's independence. However, the relationship between the two has been strained since the election of Alexander Lukashenko as the Belarusian leader in 1994. The EU has repeatedly condemned the Belarusian government for its authoritarian and anti-democratic practices, leading to sanctions and a cold relationship between the two. Despite this, Belarus has a bilateral relationship with the EU and participates in the Eastern Partnership and Baku Initiative.

The Eastern Partnership was established by the EU in 2009 to improve the political and economic association and enhance mobility between the EU and its Eastern European neighbours, including Belarus. Belarus's participation in the Eastern Partnership has been on and off, with the country suspending its membership in June 2021. However, as of October 2022, Belarus is listed as a partner country of the Eastern Partnership.

The Baku Initiative is an international initiative of the EU that focuses on energy and transport cooperation between the EU, Turkey, and the former Soviet republics. It was launched in 2004 as part of the INOGATE energy and TRACECA transport programmes. The initiative aims to enhance the integration of the energy markets of participating countries with the EU energy market to create transparent energy markets capable of attracting investment and enhancing energy supply security. Belarus, as a former Soviet republic, is a partner country in the Baku Initiative.

The relationship between Belarus and the EU is complex due to Belarus's strong ties with Russia, which has been critical of the EU. Belarus is a part of the Belarus-Russia Union State and the European-Asian Union, which includes both countries and other CIS members. Belarus's relationship with Russia has complicated its participation in EU initiatives, and the EU has excluded Belarus from its European Neighbourhood Policy due to its concerns about the authoritarian regime under President Lukashenko.

Despite the tensions and complexities, there have been some improvements in Belarus-EU relations. In 2015, the EU suspended most sanctions against Belarus, and in 2016, the travel ban on Lukashenko was lifted. Belarus has also taken steps towards democratisation, such as electing opposition candidates to parliament in 2016, and has not supported Russia's aggression towards Ukraine. However, ongoing human rights violations and suppression of political opposition in Belarus have slowed further progress in improving relations with the EU.

The EU has imposed sanctions on Belarus for human rights violations

Belarus is not a member of the European Union. However, the country has maintained bilateral relations with the Union since its independence in 1991. Belarus is also a member of the Commonwealth of Independent States and participates in two EU projects: the Eastern Partnership and the Baku Initiative.

The relationship between the EU and Belarus has been strained since the election of Alexander Lukashenko in 1994. Lukashenko, often regarded as a dictator, has led an authoritarian regime that has been condemned by the EU for its anti-democratic practices and human rights violations.

The EU has imposed sanctions on Belarus for its internal situation and its involvement in Russia's aggression against Ukraine. These sanctions include:

• Individual and economic sanctions targeting specific individuals and entities within Belarus, such as members of the judiciary, leaders of state security services, and representatives of media outlets spreading state propaganda.
• Travel bans and asset freezes for those listed under the sanctions regime, prohibiting them from entering or transiting through EU territories and freezing their economic resources.
• Restrictions on trade, including a SWIFT ban for Belarusian banks and a prohibition on transactions with the Central Bank of Belarus.
• Limits on financial inflows from Belarus to the EU and a ban on the provision of euro-denominated banknotes to the country.

The EU has also imposed an arms embargo on Belarus and banned Belarusian airlines from flying over EU airspace or using EU airports.

The sanctions are intended to pressure the Belarusian political leadership to prevent further violence and repression, release political prisoners, and initiate a genuine national dialogue. The EU stands ready to support a peaceful democratic transition in Belarus but has also stated its willingness to adopt further sanctions if the situation does not improve.

The EU has also imposed sanctions on Belarus for its involvement in Russia's invasion of Ukraine

Belarus is not a member of the European Union. However, it does maintain a bilateral relationship with the Union and is a part of two EU projects: the Eastern Partnership and the Baku Initiative. Belarus also borders three EU member states: Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia.

Since Belarus gained independence in 1991, its relationship with the EU has been strained. The EU has condemned the Belarusian government several times for its authoritarian and anti-democratic practices, and has even imposed sanctions on the country.

In February 2022, Belarus permitted Russian forces to utilize its territory as a staging ground for the invasion of Ukraine. In response, the EU imposed sanctions on Belarus, targeting its involvement in the war. These sanctions include:

• Individual sanctions on over 200 backers of the Belarusian regime and those responsible for oppressing the opposition.
• Financial sanctions, including restrictions on the financing of certain Belarusian banks and a ban on transactions involving the assets and reserves of the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus. Several Belarusian banks have also been excluded from the SWIFT secure messaging network.
• Economic sanctions, particularly import bans in key sectors of the Belarusian economy, including hydrocarbons, potash, transport, and commodities.

These sanctions are similar to those imposed on Russia and aim to increase the cost of the war for Belarus. The EU has stated that these sanctions will continue as long as Belarus remains involved in the conflict.

Belarus has suspended its participation in the EU's Eastern Partnership

Belarus is not a member of the European Union. However, it has participated in two EU projects: the Eastern Partnership and the Baku Initiative. Belarus's involvement in these projects is indicative of its desire to maintain bilateral relations with the EU.

The Eastern Partnership is an EU initiative to improve ties with its eastern neighbours. In 2009, Belarus joined the initiative, along with five other former Soviet states: Ukraine, Moldova, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. The EU offered these countries enhanced economic and political ties in return for diplomatic reforms.

However, relations between Belarus and the EU have been strained since the 2020 Belarusian presidential election, which was widely believed to have been rigged. The EU imposed sanctions on the Belarusian government and, in response, Belarus suspended its participation in the Eastern Partnership in June 2021.

The Belarusian Foreign Ministry stated that they "cannot fulfill [their] obligations under this agreement amid the sanctions and restrictions imposed by the EU." They also recalled their representative to the EU for consultations and recommended Brussels to do the same. The suspension of the Eastern Partnership participation was seen as a step backward for relations between Minsk and Brussels, with the potential to escalate tensions further.

The deterioration of Belarus-EU relations continued, with the EU imposing additional sanctions on Belarus in response to its involvement in Russia's military invasion of Ukraine. These sanctions included individual and economic sanctions, restrictions on trade, and a SWIFT ban for Belarusian banks.

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