Justas Paleckis: Situation of human rights in Belarus has improved

Rapporteur of the EP delegation prepared a report on Belarus.

The document, which contains recommendations for policy of EU in point of the official Minsk, was published on the website of the European Parliament.

Justas Paleckis remindes that in 2008-2010, EU-Belarus relations had gained a positive momentum, but the brutal crackdown following the Presidential elections led to their deterioration. The report stated about unconditional and immediate release and rehabilitation of the political and civic rights of all remaining political prisoners to be a prerequisite for a gradual lifting of EU restrictive measures and for a substantial upgrade in EU-Belarus relations.

Justas Paleckis said that an improvement of the situation of human rights was discernible in 2012 and the European Dialogue on Modernisation with Belarusian society launched in 2012 has had a positive impact on the development of civil society in Belarus.

On this basis, Justas Paleckis written about a number of recommendations for the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Council and the European Commission.

On political dialogue

Justas Paleckis offer to «use Lithuania’s Presidency and the Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius as unique opportunities to improve relations with Belarus, including with a view to restarting the political dialogue on, inter alia, democratic reforms and respect for the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms and consider the suspension of key officials from the EU visa ban list with a view to broadening the main and essential diplomatic communication channel with Belarus, also in view of the Eastern Partnership summit».

Also he offer to «prepare a strategic «roadmap», inspired by the Joint Interim Plan, including both priority areas for reforms in Belarus and proposals on enhanced political dialogue, which could eventually lead to a relaunch of negotiations on a new comprehensive agreement; in the same vein, consult the European Parliament on the inclusion of new proposals concerning interparliamentary relations, both bilaterally and within the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly» and increase contacts with officials in order to foster openness of mind towards the EU and to enhance EU-Belarus cooperation.

On economic and energy cooperation

Justas Paleckis offer to «use of the constructive EU-Belarus technical dialogue on macroeconomic developments and financial issues to achieve a credible commitment by Belarus to gradual macroeconomic and structural reforms including gradual and socially responsible privatisation of state-owned enterprises; price, trade and banking system liberalisation; the development of an appropriate social safety net and the fight against corruption» and encourage Belarus to implement ILO recommendations, in particular concerning the freedom of association, registration and activities of independent trade unions.

Document call on Belarus to enforce the highest international safety standards for the construction of nuclear power plants, optimising expertise and financing from all available international instruments.

On border management

Justas Paleckis offer to consider «strengthen EU-Belarus cooperation on border management and the fight against crossborder crime and in particular assist Belarus in developing its transit system, modernising customs and border control procedures and fully implementing the EU Integrated Border Management concept».

On civil society and people-to-people contacts

Rapporteur of the EP delegation offer to «increase the share of projects with greater benefit to and visibility for the population at large, which would foster citizens’ understanding of EU policies and stress the advantages of its model and expertise» and to consder «unilaterally facilitating the issuing of visas and reducing their cost from EUR 60 to an affordable level for Belarusian citizens, and making full use of the existing flexibilities offered by the Visa Code, including the waiver or reduction of fees for short-stay visas; also consider unilaterally reducing or waiving the visa fees for long-stay visas».

Let us remind, Justas Paleckis had visited Belarus in March 2013. This visit was criticized by the Belarusian opposition, human rights activists and relatives of political prisoners.

Justas Paleckis appears in the Lord Bell's plan to improve image of dictatorship. The report contains the item «direct lobbying», which speaks about working with specific officials and politicians of the EU.