On Tuesday 26 October, the EU ambassador to Belarus, Dirk Schuebel, told MEPs in the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs that while discussions were focussing on the migratory pressure from Belarus, the human rights situation in the country should not be forgotten.
“Many people talk about migration - it makes the headlines - but the most important problem is the human rights situation”, explained the ambassador, who in late June was given just 48 hours to leave the country at the request of the Belarusian authorities. The Polish, Lithuanian, Latvian and French ambassadors also had to leave, and several European embassies closed or had their services reduced.
Mr Schuebel explained that there are currently 820 political prisoners in Belarus. “The campaign to silence all remaining independent voices continues”, he added, also citing the lack of press freedom and the massive attacks on civil society.
In the face of these attacks, the ambassador acknowledged that it was difficult for the EU to act. “We are still talking to people, we are trying to get in touch, but most NGOs have been liquidated or are about to be. Opponents are in prison or abroad, or otherwise in hiding, but our presence is important”, he explained.
The ambassador confirmed that the EU was preparing a fifth package of sanctions against the regime. According to him, the package will focus on migration issues, but not exclusively. “We will continue to keep up the pressure until at least some of our demands are met”, he promised. MEPs present at the discussion called for a stronger EU response to the regime’s actions.
Mr Schuebel called for “strategic patience”. “We must remain firm, not relax our demands and demonstrate the possibilities that the country will have if it satisfies our demands”, explained the ambassador, referring to the EU’s proposal of an economic plan for a democratic Belarus of €3 billion (see EUROPE 12729/14). According to him, “There is a need for strategic patience to support human rights and democracy, because the people deserve it”.
Asked about the place of Belarus at the Eastern Partnership summit on 15 December, the ambassador said that no decision had yet been taken on the country’s participation, but that it would certainly not be the authorities representing it.
The European Parliament rapporteur on Belarus, Petras Auštrevičius (Renew Europe, Lithuania), asked that the opposition be invited to the summit. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)