European Parliamentary Research Service Blog
Belarus
Plenary round-up – December 2020
The December 2020 plenary session focused on the agreement on EU finances for the coming years, as well as the conclusions of the 10‑11 December European Council meeting. Continue reading
The 2020 Sakharov Prize laureate: The democratic opposition in Belarus
At a time when authoritarianism is rising, the Sakharov Prize draws attention to the situation of those who resist the repression of human rights and fundamental freedoms. Continue reading
Plenary round-up – October II 2020
During the second October 2020 plenary session – the first at which Members were able to speak remotely, and not only vote, from the Member States – the European Commission presented its 2021 work programme, which Members largely welcomed. Continue reading
European Parliament Plenary Session – October II 2020
Parliament’s second plenary session in October will be the first ever to be held entirely virtually, due to the ongoing pandemic. Continue reading
Outcome of the special European Council meeting, 1-2 October 2020
The European Council meeting of 1-2 October 2020 was largely dedicated to external relations. EU leaders discussed a wide range of foreign policy issues, including relations with China, Nagorno-Karabakh and the Navalny poisoning attempt. Continue reading
Plenary round-up – Brussels, September 2020
The September 2020 plenary session was the sixth conducted with Members participating remotely, using the alternative voting procedure put in place in March by Parliament’s Bureau, although a majority were again present in Brussels. Continue reading
Belarus on the brink
As usual in Belarus, the 9 August presidential election was marred by fraud, repression and state violence against the opposition. As expected, the long-standing President, Aleksander Lukashenko, claimed a landslide victory. Continue reading
Outcome of the European Council video-conference of 19 August 2020
The European Council video-conference meeting of 19 August 2020 was called by the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, due to the increasingly worrying situation in Belarus after the recent national elections. Continue reading
Plenary round-up – Brussels, July 2020
The July 2020 plenary session was the fifth conducted with Members participating remotely, using the alternative voting procedure put in place in March by Parliament’s Bureau, although a majority were present in Brussels. Continue reading
The EU’s Eastern Partnership [What Think Tanks are thinking]
The European Union and its Eastern Partnership neighbours hold their fifth summit on 24 November 2017, to take stock of the eight-year-old cooperation programme and map ways to strengthen political and economic ties. Continue reading
Eastern Partnership: 2017 Brussels summit – Taking stock and new objectives
On 24 November 2017, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine meet with the European Union (EU) in Brussels for the fifth Eastern Partnership (EaP) summit. Continue reading
Belarus’s parliamentary elections: Déjà vu?
After 22 years in power, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko’s camp can expect yet another victory in the 11 September parliamentary elections. The weary Belarusian opposition is no threat to the iron-fisted president, who represents stability in uncertain times. What is new, however, is that Lukashenko, who is increasingly trying to balance his relations with the West and Russia amid on-going economic woes, seems worried about the growing presence of pro-Putin forces in Belarus. Continue reading
Safety of nuclear installations in Belarus [Plenary Podcast]
Written by Naja Bentzen, Thirty years after the Chernobyl accident in neighbouring Ukraine, Belarus is building its first nuclear power plant (NPP). The first unit is set to become operational in 2018 with Russian assistance. However, as the project advances, safety concerns are mounting. Belarus to realise nuclear power aspirations with help from Russia The … Continue reading
Looking East: the EU’s Eastern Partnership Summit in focus
This week’s key event is the Eastern Partnership (EaP) summit in Vilnius on 28 and 29 of November, meant to be a milestone in the Eastern Partnership process: two countries – Moldova and Georgia – will initial agreements with the EU. However, just a week before the summit the Ukrainian government suspended preparations for signing … Continue reading
EU policy towards Belarus
6 language versions available in PDF format Politik der EU gegenüber Belarus Política de la UE hacia Bielorrusia Politique de l’Union à l’égard de la Biélorussie La politica dell’UE nei confronti della Bielorussia Polityka UE wobec Białorusi EU policy towards Belarus The EU maintains a policy of critical engagement with Belarus, including imposing sanctions. Nonetheless, … Continue reading
The EU’s eastern neighbours
This Spotlight gives statistical background for the six partner countries in the European Union’s Eastern Neighbourhood: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. Using different indicators, the paper looks at the aid paid by the EU to the six countries, under the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) as well as other instruments. It shows … Continue reading
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