On Thursday 12 December, the Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, announced a further €30 million in support for the people of Belarus.
The funds “will help sustain independent voices, protect human rights defenders and help culture and education in exile”, she announced at a high-level conference at the European Parliament entitled ‘Standing with the people of Belarus’.
With this new fund, total EU support since 2020 amounts to €170 million. “[The funds have] helped provide legal and medical support for more than 3,000 victims of repression, scholarships for over 3,000 students and supported thousands of businesses in exile”, said the Commissioner. “The EU will be at your side in your demand for a free, democratic, sovereign and independent Belarus, as part of a peaceful and prosperous Europe”, promised Ms Kos.
The President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, reiterated Parliament’s support for the “brave people of Belarus”. And she added: “The fight for freedom is alive and well, and the EU has sided with you and will continue to support you”.
“The fight is far from over. Together, we can liberate Belarus and turn it into a democracy”, said the leader of the Belarusian democratic forces, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, dreaming of the day when her country would be a member of the EU.
The day before, at the fourth meeting of the consultative group between the EU and Belarusian democratic forces and civil society in Brussels, the EU reiterated its support for “the courageous Belarusian democratic forces in their quest for a democratic, independent and sovereign Belarus”, according to the European External Action Service. In particular, the two parties discussed the Belarusian presidential elections in January 2025, with the EU stressing the need for free, fair and transparent electoral processes. “At present, given the ongoing repression, the conditions for democratic elections are not in place”, the EEAS argued. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)