Belarus and the European Union

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Belarus and the European Union refers to relations between the Republic of Belarus and the European Union. Mutual relations were established after the European Union recognized Belarusian independence in 1991. The relations between Minsk and the EU have deteriorated sharply since the rise to power of Alexander Lukashenko in 1994. The relationship has remained cold and distanced.

1 Legal framework
2 The debate on EU-Belarus relations
3 See also
4 External links

[edit] Legal framework

Although the European Union and Belarus signed a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) in 1995, which was intended to govern the mutual political and economic relations, this agreement was not ratified by the EU. Furthermore, the European Union has excluded Belarus from its European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), which was originally designed to establish a "ring of friends" in the Union's geographical proximity. Brussels has claimed this exclusion to be a direct response to the establishment of an authoritarian regime under President Lukashenko. However, EU-Belarus trade relations are still covered by the Union's General System of Preferences (GSP) and the most favoured nation (MFN) provisions of the 1989 Agreement between the EU and the Soviet Union. Belarus is amongst the few states in Europe that have not asked for membership in the European Union. Similarly, the European Union has not offered membership to Minsk.

[edit] The debate on EU-Belarus relations

Most analysts of EU-Belarus relations hold that the deterioration of mutual relations was caused by the undemocratic choices of Minsk and its prioritisation of Belarus-Russia relations at the expense of EU-Belarus relations. Although most observers have portrayed the EU as actively seeking change in Belarus, there is also a small number of analysts who question the EU's commitment to such an involvement. Belarus tends to get little attention in the western European media landscape, which has put little pressure on the EU and its member states to engage in a policy of regime change. However, it is commonly agreed that the new EU member states, especially Poland and Lithuania, have tried to push the EU towards a more assertive stance towards Minsk.