Belarus and the EU

Latest business news about Belarus and the European Union

Belarus has the opportunity to be an active partner of the EU in the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), provided that the country embarks on fundamental democratic and economic reforms to bring the country closer to European common values.

The EU's offer to re-engage with Belarus was set out in the document What the EU could bring to Belarus , which the Commission released in November 2006 and which offers Belarus to enter a full partnership, as part of the European Neighbourhood Policy, provided that Belarus takes convincing steps towards democratisation, respect for human rights and the rule of law. It contains concrete examples of how the people of Belarus could gain from a rapprochement between the EU and Belarus.

FACT SHEETS

• Belarus: Economy Overview
• Belarus Investment Climate 2009
• Starting a business in Belarus
• EU Delegation to Belarus

LATEST NEWS

Belarus refuses to free jailed rights leader — 24 January 2012, 11:12 CET

A Belarus court on Tuesday upheld the conviction and four-and-a-half year jail sentence of a top human rights leader whose arrest was based on the unwitting cooperation of two European Union states.

EU announces new Belarus sanctions after activist's trial — 16 December 2011, 12:22 CET

The European Union on Friday tightened sanctions on Belarus, slapping an assets freeze and travel ban against two persons involved in the controversial trial of a human rights campaigner.

EU, OSCE slam Belarus rights campaigner sentence — 24 November 2011, 15:40 CET

EU leader Poland and OSCE president Lithuania on Thursday slammed the jailing by Belarus of a human rights leader after a trial based on evidence they have insisted they were tricked into supplying.

Lukashenko ally challenges sanctions in EU court — 18 October 2011, 18:00 CET

A top ally of Belarus's authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko has launched a court challenge to European Union sanctions against him and his companies, his Lithuanian lawyers said Tuesday.

EU slaps new sanctions on Belarus, Iran: diplomats — 10 October 2011, 11:37 CET

The European Union on Monday slapped fresh sanctions on Belarus and Iran in protest at human rights violations, diplomats said.

EU readies new sanctions against Belarus — 06 October 2011, 23:07 CET

The EU is readying fresh sanctions against 16 people allegedly involved in rights violations in Belarus, where President Alexander Lukashenko has thrown hundreds of opponents behind bars, diplomatic sources said Thursday.

Belarus opposition leader freed after EU summit — 01 October 2011, 22:52 CET

A key opposition figure in Belarus was released Saturday, one day after a European Union summit with ex-Soviet states called for the immediate release of the country's political prisoners.

Belarus opposition leader 'summoned after EU summit' — 01 October 2011, 13:37 CET

One of the leading figures in the Belarussian opposition said on Saturday that police summoned him after he attended a summit of EU leaders in Poland on further integration for ex-Soviet states.

EU slams Belarus, Ukraine in clash on human rights — 30 September 2011, 16:51 CET

Belarus and Ukraine won a sharp dressing-down from the European Union Friday at a summit with ex-Soviet states, with Minsk rebuked for the jailing of opponents and Kiev over the trial of ex premier Yulia Tymoshenko.

EU leaders demand release of Belarus political prisoners — 30 September 2011, 14:52 CET

European Union leaders demanded the immediate release and rehabilitation of Belarus political prisoners in a joint statement issued Friday at the close of a summit with ex-Soviet states in Warsaw.

EU leaders demand release of Belarus political prisoners — 30 September 2011, 13:37 CET

European Union leaders demanded the immediate release and rehabilitation of Belarus political prisoners in a joint statement issued Friday at the close of a summit with ex-Soviet states in Warsaw.

Repression of Belarus opposition 'unacceptable': Merkel — 30 September 2011, 12:57 CET

The repression of the Belarus opposition under strongman leader Alexander Lukashenko is "unacceptable", German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Friday at an EU summit with ex-Soviet partner states.

Belarus boycotts summit in human rights clash with EU — 30 September 2011, 12:42 CET

Belarus boycotted the Eastern Partnership summit with ex-Soviet states Friday after EU leaders slapped down authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko for throwing hundreds of opponents behind bars.

Poland mulls carrot-and-stick deal for Belarus — 30 September 2011, 01:00 CET

Poland is proposing a package of economic measures to help cash-strapped Belarus on condition it pledges to shore up democratic processes, an EU diplomat said Thursday.

EU leaders demand Belarus free jailed dissidents — 29 September 2011, 19:32 CET

European Union leaders warned Belarus on Thursday there could be no warming in ties with the bloc unless the regime of authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko freed dissidents held in jail.

Belarus foreign minister skipping EU summit: Poland — 28 September 2011, 20:54 CET

Belarus's authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko, left off the guest list of an EU summit with six ex-Soviet states, only wants to send his Warsaw ambassador instead, Poland said Wednesday.

Belarus exile urges tougher EU sanctions on Minsk — 28 September 2011, 11:00 CET

After being beaten and jailed for her coverage of Belarus's disputed presidential election, Natallia Radzina fled her country refusing to believe a fellow independent journalist died there by his own hand.

Ukraine trial, Belarus detainees worry EU — 03 September 2011, 23:00 CET

The EU is worried over developments on its eastern flank in Ukraine and Belarus, just weeks before the 27-nation bloc holds an Eastern Partnership summit in Poland, foreign ministers said Saturday.

EU must be firm on Belarus political prisoners: ministers — 03 September 2011, 22:36 CET

European foreign ministers on Saturday urged the EU to stand firm on its demand for the release of political prisoners in Belarus before any talks with strongman Alexander Lukashenko.

Belarus freed 13 political prisoners to date: Bulgaria — 02 September 2011, 14:47 CET

Belarus has freed 13 political prisoners in the past month as a first step to a larger pledge by President Alexander Lukashenko to release all those arrested by October, Bulgaria said Friday.

Belarus promises to free all political prisoners: Bulgaria — 01 September 2011, 23:08 CET

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko has pledged to release all political prisoners in his country within a month and a half, Bulgaria's foreign ministry announced Thursday.

Belarus must release political prisoners: Baltic ministers — 30 August 2011, 21:20 CET

Foreign ministers of Nordic and Baltic countries jointly called for the immediate release of political prisoners in Belarus during a regional summit in Helsinki on Tuesday.

Russia announces release of Belarus bailout — 21 June 2011, 17:50 CET

Russia on Tuesday announced the release of the first $800 million tranche of a bailout loan to Belarus aimed at helping its neighbour recover from its worst economic crisis since the Soviet era.

EU slaps fresh sanctions on Belarus — 20 June 2011, 16:11 CET

Europe's foreign ministers on Monday slapped fresh sanctions on Belarus, sanctioning three companies and three individuals close to President Alexander Lukashenko.

Moscow 'negative' on Minsk crackdown: minister — 31 May 2011, 22:09 CET

Russia will not join the European Union in pushing for further sanctions on Belarus but the Kremlin has a "negative perception" of its crackdown on the opposition, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Tuesday.