The Foreign Ministers of the Member States agreed on Monday 21 June on EU sectoral sanctions against Belarus.
“We have approved options for targeted economic sanctions. Our aim is to adopt them quickly after the European Council guidelines” on 24 June, explained the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, following the Council in Luxembourg.
Ahead of the meeting, the High Representative had explained that the measures would affect those sectors of the Belarusian economy directly linked to exports. “At a certain point, much stronger measures must be taken, which will affect the economic sector more deeply. This will affect the economy, and therefore the people, but the government is not changing its attitude. [...] So, we must use all the means we can mobilise. And that’s what economic sanctions are for”, he explained.
The measures could include a ban on new loans to the state, the central bank and majority state-owned banks and entities; the sale of certain financial products; and restrictions on certain types of potash, tobacco products, and petroleum products produced in or re-exported from Belarus. The EU will also include in its arms embargo those used for hunting and sport (see EUROPE 12427/24) and ban the sale of dual-use goods and surveillance equipment.
These measures will “massively affect Belarus and state revenues and therefore the funds on which Lukashenko and his regime depend”, explained German Minister Heiko Maas on his arrival at the Council. According to Ann Linde from Sweden, “what is happening in Belarus is still a tragedy, and we have to act strongly”.
EU doubles its targeted sanctions
The ministers also adopted targeted sanctions against 78 individuals and eight entities, including those responsible for the hijacking of the Ryanair flight on 23 May. Among those sanctioned are the Ministers of Transport and Defence, the Commander of the Air Force and Air Defence, the Chief of Staff, several members of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly, judges, prosecutors, directors of detention centres, and businessmen, including Alexander Lukashenko’s son Dzmitry and one of his daughters-in-law, Liliya.
The companies affected are involved in car and truck manufacturing, real estate, and oil, among others.
So far, the EU has sanctioned 88 individuals and seven entities.
In parallel and in coordination with the EU, the US, Canada, and the UK announced sanctions against the Belarusian regime.
Going further
At a press conference in Brussels, opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who met with EU Foreign Ministers earlier in the day, said sanctions should “hit hard”, referring to the regime and its allies.
She considered that the measures should not be lifted until all political prisoners have been released, a dialogue has been initiated with the opposition, and new elections have been held. She warned against Mr Lukashenko’s “trade” in political prisoners: the release of a few prisoners to obtain the lifting of some sanctions.
Despite the adoption of a substantial package of measures, the Belarusian opposition hoped that the EU would prepare a 5th package, in response to the recent increase in repression in the country.
Asked whether the sanctions could bring Mr Lukashenko closer to Russia, Ms Tikhanovskaya said he was already “as close as possible” to Moscow and that the next step would be the loss of the country’s independence.
She also hoped that the EU would do more to help Belarusian civil society, pointing out the need to support the 500 political prisoners and their families, but also those who have fled the country.
According to Ms Tikhanovskaya’s adviser on foreign affairs, Franak Viačorka, the Belarusian opposition would like the EU’s €3-billion plan for a democratic Belarus announced by the Commission to be supplemented by national plans of the Member States. He has also called for a donor conference, a special envoy for Belarus, and a high-level conference, “which could be the beginning of a dialogue” between civil society and representatives of the regime.
See the decision on targeted sanctions: https://bit.ly/3vL5Wje (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant with Léa Marchal)