Brussels, 28/02/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 28 February, the Council of Ministers of the EU authorised the European Commission to negotiate a readmission agreement and a visa facilitation system with Belarus, in compliance with the request made by the Commission for a mandate on 12 November last. In these negotiations, the Commission and Belarus will examine an agreement that will enable this country to readmit its nationals illegally residing in the EU. In exchange, negotiations will begin on short stay visas. With regard to the latter, the Foreign Affairs Council on 31 January decided not to penalise the people of Belarus and to protect its interests. On the other hand, the EU27 prepared a series of sanctions, including a freeze on granting visas that would penalise President Lukashenko and his closest supporters. Due to the political situation in Belarus, it is therefore impossible at this stage to say how long these two negotiations will last, explained one source close to the dossier. (S.P./transl.fl)