Belarus And The Eu: Why No Membership?

Belarus, officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It has never expressed aspirations to join the EU and is not a member state. Belarus has a highly centralized and authoritarian government, often described as a dictatorship. The country's first and only free election after independence took place in 1994, when Alexander Lukashenko was elected president. Since then, the country has been repeatedly condemned by the EU for its anti-democratic practices and human rights violations, resulting in sanctions and strained diplomatic relations. Belarus suspended its participation in the EU's Eastern Partnership in 2021, and the EU has imposed further sanctions in response to Belarus's involvement in Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The EU has imposed sanctions on Belarus for human rights violations and political repression

Belarus has been condemned by the European Union (EU) for its authoritarian and anti-democratic practices, which have resulted in sanctions being imposed on the country. The EU has imposed sanctions on Belarus for human rights violations and political repression, with a focus on targeting individuals and entities contributing to the ongoing crackdown on civil society, democratic opposition, independent media outlets, and journalists.

The EU's sanctions on Belarus aim to address human rights violations and political repression by targeting specific individuals and entities. In October 2024, the EU imposed sanctions on 28 Belarusian officials, including prosecutors, judges, senior officials at the interior ministry, and media personnel, who were accused of human rights violations and involvement in the crackdown on opponents of President Alexander Lukashenko. The sanctions included asset freezes and travel bans within the 27-nation bloc.

The EU has also targeted prominent members of the judicial branch, such as the Supreme Court and the State Control Committee, as well as propaganda outlets that contribute to the repression of civil society and democratic opposition. The sanctions package included asset freezes and travel bans for those designated, aiming to hinder their ability to operate and exert influence.

In addition to individuals, the EU has imposed sanctions on companies, such as Belavia Airlines, that have been complicit in the political repression and human rights violations. These companies have facilitated illegal border crossings and participated in the instrumentalisation of migration for political purposes. The EU has also restricted Belarus' access to capital markets and halted payments to the country's public sector by the European Investment Bank.

The EU's sanctions on Belarus are a response to the country's human rights violations and political repression, with a particular focus on targeting those contributing to the crackdown on civil liberties and democratic values. The sanctions aim to freeze assets, restrict travel, and limit economic activities to pressure Belarus to adhere to international law, respect human rights, and release political prisoners.

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

The decision to suspend participation in the Eastern Partnership was met with disappointment by the EU, as Belarus had been an active participant in the initiative. Despite the suspension, Belarusians continue to benefit from and have access to some of the EU's regional programmes, such as EU4Culture, EU4 Independent Media, EU 4 Gender Equality, and Partnership for Good Governance. These programmes promote cooperation and foster ties between individuals and entities from the six Eastern Partnership countries.

The deterioration in Belarus-EU relations has been attributed to several factors, including the establishment of an authoritarian regime under President Alexander Lukashenko, human rights violations, and the suppression of political opposition. The EU has imposed sanctions and restrictive measures in response to these developments, targeting individuals and entities within the Belarusian government.

The EU has also expressed concern over Belarus's collaboration with Russia, particularly in the context of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The EU has condemned Belarus's involvement in the military invasion and has implemented additional sanctions and restrictions accordingly.

Despite the strained relations, there have been efforts to improve ties between Belarus and the EU. In 2015, the EU suspended most sanctions against Belarus following the release of political prisoners. Additionally, in 2016, negotiations on EU-Belarus Partnership Priorities were initiated, aiming to strengthen bilateral relations and set a strategic framework for cooperation. However, the improvement in relations was short-lived due to the deterioration of the human rights situation, democracy, and the rule of law in Belarus.

The EU has condemned Belarus's involvement in Russia's invasion of Ukraine

Belarus is not a member of the EU due to its authoritarian government and anti-democratic practices. The EU has imposed sanctions on Belarus several times, and relations have been cold and distant since the election of Alexander Lukashenko in 1994.

The EU has strongly condemned Belarus's involvement in Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Belarus has allowed Russian troops to use its territory to stage the invasion, giving Russia a strategic advantage with a shorter land route to Kyiv. In response, the EU has adopted a range of measures, including individual and economic sanctions, restrictions on trade, and a SWIFT ban for Belarusian banks. The EU has also prohibited transactions with the Central Bank of Belarus and limited financial inflows from Belarus to the EU. These measures aim to restrict Belarus's economic and financial activities and demonstrate the EU's disapproval of Belarus's role in the conflict.

The EU's response to Belarus's involvement in the Russia-Ukraine conflict is part of a broader deterioration of relations between the two entities. Since the 2020 Belarusian presidential election, which was widely regarded as fraudulent, the EU has scaled down its relations with the Belarusian authorities and redirected its assistance towards civil society and the people of Belarus. The EU has also imposed sanctions on individuals and entities within Belarus, including travel bans and asset freezes. These measures have been implemented due to the repression of peaceful protesters, media, and civil society, as well as human rights violations and political repression within the country.

The EU's condemnation of Belarus's involvement in the Russia-Ukraine conflict is, therefore, part of a wider context of tensions and efforts to hold Belarus accountable for its actions, both domestically and internationally.

The EU has imposed restrictive measures on individuals and entities in Belarus

• A travel ban and an asset freeze: This impedes those listed from entering or transiting through EU territories, and freezes the funds or economic resources of those targeted.
• EU citizens and companies are prohibited from making funds available to the listed individuals and entities.
• Targeted economic sanctions: Prohibitions on sales of specific equipment, technology, or software; restrictions on trade in certain goods; broad financial restrictions; and a ban on providing insurance to the Belarusian government or public bodies.
• An arms embargo: In place since 2011, this includes a ban on the export of goods that could be used for internal repression.
• Suspension of visa facilitation: In November 2021, the EU partially suspended the EU-Belarus Visa Facilitation Agreement for officials linked to the Belarus regime.

The EU has also targeted specific individuals and entities for restrictive measures, including:

• President Aleksandr Lukashenko
• Viktor Lukashenko, National Security Advisor and son of President Lukashenko
• Senior officials of the Ministry of the Interior and its troops
• The Chair of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus
• The Prosecutor General
• The Chairman of the national state television and radio company

The purpose of these sanctions is to pressure the Belarusian political leadership to prevent further violence and repression, release all political prisoners and other unjustly detained people, and initiate a genuine and inclusive national dialogue. The EU stands ready to support a peaceful democratic transition and will adopt further sanctions if the situation in Belarus does not improve.

The EU does not recognise the results of the 2020 Belarusian presidential election

The EU's refusal to recognise the election results is in line with its stance on previous Belarusian elections. Since Lukashenko came to power in 1994, all but the first election have been labelled by international monitors as neither free nor fair. The 2010 election, for example, led to mass demonstrations and arrests in Minsk, with the EU declaring that the imprisonment of opposition figures and protesters contravened human rights laws.

The deterioration of Belarus-EU relations can be attributed to the establishment of an authoritarian regime under Lukashenko, with the EU repeatedly condemning the Belarusian government for authoritarian and anti-democratic practices. The EU has also imposed sanctions on Belarusian officials, businesspeople, and government-owned companies in response to political repression following mass protests.

The EU's non-recognition of the 2020 election results is part of its broader commitment to promoting human rights, democracy, and the rule of law in Belarus. The EU has continued to call on Belarus to cease the brutal repression of civil society and ordinary citizens, release all political prisoners, and abolish the death penalty, which remains a part of the country's legal system.

The EU has redirected its assistance towards the Belarusian people and civil society, providing support in areas such as civil society, human rights, independent media, education, and culture. The EU remains committed to supporting the Belarusian civil society and democratic forces, even in the face of growing Russian influence and the forced Russification of Belarusian society.

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