EU agrees sanctions over Belarus 'international scandal'
Charles Michel - Photo © European Union 2021
(BRUSSELS) - EU leaders at a two-day summit Tuesday strongly condemned the forced landing of a Ryanair flight in Minsk and the detention by Belarus authorities of journalist Raman Pratasevich and Sofia Sapega.
At the meeting, the European Council demanded the immediate release of Raman Pratasevich and Sofia Sapega and invited the Council to adopt relevant sanctions concerning persons and entities as soon as possible.
They also called on the Council to adopt further targeted economic sanctions, called on all EU-based carriers to avoid overflight of Belarus, and also called on the Council to adopt measures to ban overflight of EU airspace by Belarusian airlines and prevent access to EU airports of flights operated by such airlines.
Also on the agenda was the EU's relations with Russia. Here they condemned the "illegal, provocative and disruptive Russian activities" against the EU, its member states and others. They reaffirmed the EU's unity and solidarity in the face of such acts, and expressed their solidarity with the Czech Republic and supported its response.
The summit covered relations with the UK, and they welcomed entry into force of the EU-UK trade and cooperation agreement on 1 May.
However, they warned that the EU would 'under no circumstances' undermine the integrity of the single market, the customs union or the EU's decision-making autonomy.
The Council has invited the Commission to continue efforts to ensure full implementation of the agreements, including in the areas of EU citizens' rights, fisheries and a level playing field.
Regarding COVID-19, the EU leaders agreed that a gradual reopening of our societies will be possible, in the light of the speeding up of vaccination across the EU. However, they warned that the EU needs to stay vigilant regarding the emergence and spread of variants, and take action as necessary. The leaders also stressed the importance of ongoing work to step up vaccination production and secure adequate supply throughout the EU.
The leaders welcomed the agreement reached on the EU digital COVID certificate and called for its rapid implementation to facilitate free movement within the EU. As a next step, the European Council called for the revision by mid-June of the Council recommendation on travel within the EU. The leaders also welcomed the revision of the Council recommendation on non-essential travel into the EU.