MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Belarus
14.12.2009
pursuant to Rule 110(2) of the Rules of Procedure
Adrian Severin, Kristian Vigenin, Justas Vincas Paleckis, Marek Siwiec on behalf of the S&D Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0248/2009
B7‑0250/2009
European Parliament resolution on Belarus
The European Parliament,
– having regard to its previous resolutions on Belarus,
– having regard to the GAERC Conclusions on Belarus of 17 November 2009 further extending the restrictive measures provided for by Common Position 2006/276/CFSP while suspending their application until October 2010,
– having regard to the Declaration by the European Council on the Eastern Partnership of 19-20 March 2009 and to the Joint Declaration of the Eastern Partnership Summit held in Prague on 7 May 2009,
– having regard to the EU statement in the OSCE on the death penalty in Belarus of 29 October 2009,
– having regard to Rule 110(2) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas the Council in its conclusions of 17 November 2009 recognises that new possibilities have opened up for dialogue and deepened cooperation between the EU and Belarus with the aim of fostering genuine progress towards democracy and respect for human rights, and reaffirms its readiness to deepen the European Union's relations with Belarus, subject to further progress towards democracy, human rights and the rule of law, and to assist the country in attaining these objectives,
B. whereas some positive steps, such as the release of most political prisoners and the authorisation of distribution of two independent newspapers, have been taken since October 2008 while at the same time concerns remain regarding the insufficient progress on freedom of expression, assembly and political association,
C. whereas one of the objectives of Belarus's participation in the Eastern Partnership Initiative and its parliamentary branch Euronest is to intensify cooperation between the country and the EU, including its people-to-people dimension,
D. whereas Belarus has committed itself to consider the recommendations made by the OSCE/ODIHR regarding improvements to its electoral law in order to bring it into line with international standards for democratic elections and to consult about the proposed amendments with the OSCE; whereas the National Assembly of Belarus has recently passed a reform of the Electoral Code without prior consultation of the OSCE,
E. whereas Belarus remains the sole European country still using the death penalty; whereas further death sentences have been pronounced in recent months,
F. whereas in response to the positive steps taken by Belarus, the Commission has already entered into an intensified dialogue with that country in fields such as energy, the environment, customs, transport and food safety and confirmed its readiness to further expand the scope of those talks,
1. Supports the decision of the Council to extend the restrictive measures against certain Belarusian officials and at the same time to maintain the suspension of the application of travel restrictions imposed on certain officials of Belarus for a twelve-month period;
2. Welcomes the increased political dialogue and the establishment of a Human Rights Dialogue between the EU and Belarus; at the same time views positively the decision by the Council to launch negotiations on visa facilitation and readmission agreements with Belarus and hopes that the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the EU and Belarus, which has been frozen since 1997, could be revived soon; urges the Belarusian authorities to sign the visa-free travel agreements for border zone inhabitants with neighbouring EU countries;
3. Welcomes the constructive and active participation of Belarus in the Eastern Partnership, an initiative aimed at strengthening democracy and the rule of law and promoting European cooperation; regards Belarus's participation in the Eastern Partnership as a way forward to promote further dialogue with the European Union and deeper rapprochement based on a readiness and commitment on the part of Belarus to attain these objectives; welcomes trilateral cooperation between Lithuania, Belarus and Ukraine in the framework of the Eastern Partnership with priority given to projects on integrated border management, transport and transit, the common cultural and historical heritage, social security and energy security;
4. Notes that new impetus should be given to mutually fruitful dialogue between Belarus and the European Union through interparliamentary cooperation within Euronest; notes that Belarus will be invited to participate fully and on an equal basis in the Euronest Assembly - the parliamentary dimension of the Eastern Partnership - as soon as free and fair elections to the Belarusian Parliament take place and considers that until then interim provisions should be applied;
5. Notes that, in its Conclusions of 17 November 2009, the Council called on the Commission to make a proposal for a joint interim plan to set priorities for reforms, inspired by the Action Plans developed in the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy, to be implemented with Belarus; calls on the Government of Belarus to demonstrate concrete positive developments in the area of democracy, the rule of law and human rights which would in turn encourage the EU to take steps towards upgrading its relations with Belarus;
6. Is of the opinion that all EU Member States and their governments should pursue a coherent stance in their relations with third countries based on the Common Positions agreed in the Council; also considers that the European institutions should follow a joint strategy and combine efforts in pursuing concrete results in the EU's relations with Belarus;
7. Notes with regret that, after initial positive steps undertaken by the Belarus Government, no further essential progress has been made in the field of human rights and fundamental freedoms; recalls in this respect the continued repression against political opponents and the refusal to register political parties, NGOs and independent media;
8. Deeply regrets the continued use of the death penalty in Belarus as contrary to the stated efforts by the Belarusian authorities in recent years to gradually restrict its use; welcomes the Belarusian Government's efforts to raise public awareness of the issue of abolishing the death penalty through various information campaigns; continues to urge Belarus to declare a moratorium on the use of the death penalty with a view to its abolition; hopes that this issue will be efficiently tackled in the framework of the recently established Human Rights Dialogue between Belarus and the EU;
9. Insists that clear and significant progress on the way to democratisation is expected within the next year in order for the sanctions to be completely lifted; considers that the conditions for full re-engagement with Belarus should be:
- respect for freedom of expression, association and assembly and the release of all remaining political prisoners,
- free registration of political parties and creation of favourable conditions for the operation of NGOs and independent media,
- meaningful changes to the electoral law in line with the OSCE/ODIHR recommendations;
10. Calls on the Commission to make full and effective use of the possibilities to support civil society and democratic developments in Belarus via the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights; stresses at the same time that democratic opposition must be part of the gradual re-engagement process with Belarus;
11. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the parliaments and governments of the Member States, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the Parliamentary Assemblies of the OSCE and the Council of Europe, the Secretariat of the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Parliament and Government of Belarus.