Belarusian-European Union relations

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Belarusian-European relations refers to relations between Belarus and the European Union. While the EU recognized Belarus aftet their independence from the Soviet Union, the relationship has turned sour due to the 1994 election of Alexander Lukashenko, the current leader of Belarus. While both sides have agreed to treaties and pledges of cooperation, the EU instructed their members to ignore the agreements due to the political situation in Belarus. However, Belarus is still a trading parter with the EU and receives some aid for humanitarian purposes or to help push for democracy inside of Belarus.

1 Trading
2 Membership
3 References
4 External links

[edit] Trading

While the EU and Belarus signed a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) in 1995, the Council of Europe said in 1997 that "the EC and their Member States will conclude neither the interim agreement nor the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement" because of the political situation in Belarus. Though the Council did not expand on what is causing the deteriorating political situation, Belarus has been accused of human rights violations and for having very unfree and unfair elections.

Even with the negation of the PCA, there was an agreement signed by the EU and the Soviet Union in 1989 and there is a discussion on if a special trade status with Belarus, called the Generalized System of Preferences, should be suspended. The suspension of the GSP comes in response to Belarus violating the constitutional right of freedom of association (assembly).

[edit] Membership

Belarus has not stated publicly that they seek out EU membership, but former Lithuanian Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius state in 2003 that Belarus despretly needs membership in order to "get out of the swamp." ^[1] Kubilius also said that he hoped that with Lithuania being members of the EU and NATO could help supply aid to Belarus.