European Parliament appointed rapporteur for Belarus

Bastiaan Belder, independence democracy group member, is appointed rapporteur for Belarus. According to the European Parliament, he just has been appointed and is to start up compiling his report.

There wasn’t an official mandate for a rapporteur for Belarus in the European Parliament before. There were only certain groups of parliamentarians investigating “Belarusian issue”. The heads of those groups were a Pole and a representative of the Netherlands.

As it was explained to “Ezhednevnik” (“Daily”) the rapporteur will first of all consult and help the European Parliament to work out the most effective policy towards Belarus.

The consequences of the mandate can be very unpredictable. Moreover the EP excludes the possibility of dialog with the Belarusian authorities until all the political prisoners will be discharged. The fact that Mr. Belder worked as journalist and respects the democratic freedoms doesn’t make an advantage to Belarus.

Mr. Belder is a Member of the European Parliament since 1999. He will compile reports only for the Parliament. He was appointed rapporteur for relations between EU and Belarus, but the compiling of the reporter faces obstacles. “The Belarusian authorities don’t cooperate with us and the existing situation doesn’t allow to make full review of the relations between the EU and Belarus”, - the EU declares.

But in spite of the fact that Belder hasn’t started compiling of the report, his attitude to Belarusian issue is known in many respects. It is coordinated with the position of EU Commissioner for External relations and European Neighbourhood Policy Benita Ferrero-Waldner. She declared not long ago that Belarus must show the EU its desire to move on the way to Europe.