European Parliament Urges To Talk To Lukashenka In Language Of Ultimatums

The majority of participants in the debate calls for new sanctions.

On 21 January, the European Parliament discussed the situation in Belarus. The debate was held during the plenary session in Strasbourg, reports a correspondent of Charter97.org.

European Commissioner for Defence Andrius Kubilius noted the difference between Lukashenka's regime and the Belarusian people:

- Belarusians have seen the dictator become complicit in a war they do not support, gradually surrendering the country's sovereignty, identity and well-being under pressure from Russia.

The European Commissioner said that Brussels has already worked out a plan to support a free Belarus after the fall of the regime: the EU is ready to allocate 3 billion euros in a short time.

The topic of the debate was the so-called upcoming ‘elections’ in Belarus. Polish MEP Michał Szczerba was clear on this issue:

- No one in Europe will ever recognise the ‘elections’ that Lukashenka's regime will organise this weekend.

Many of the speakers spoke about sanctions. ‘The European Union is ready to introduce new restrictive and targeted measures as long as the Belarusian authorities continue these actions,’ remarked Adam Szlapka, Polish government minister in EU affairs.

Head of the European Parliament delegation on Belarus Malgorzata Gosiewska urged to be more decisive in relation to the regime:

- We should speak to the regime in the language of ultimatums. An end to half-measures. No more compromises.

Sanctions should target key sectors of the economy that support Lukashenka's regime: exports of fertilisers, oil products. They should also cover European companies operating in Belarus. Let's block the regime's access to international financial transactions.

At the same time, we must hang the sword of Damocles of the International Criminal Court over Lukashenka and his entourage. What is happening in Belarus is not only a violation of human rights - it is a crime against humanity.

Mārtiņš Stakis, former mayor of Riga, known for hanging white-red-white flags in the city during the World Hockey Championship, and now MEP for Latvia, also spoke in favour of decisive action:

- We must hit the regime's pain points, focus our efforts on what is critical for the regime - the economy. We must impose sanctions on potash fertilisers, oil products and other key exports. We must close all the loopholes that fill Lukashenka's wallets.

Poland's former interior minister Mariusz Kaminski criticised European officials for their indecisiveness towards the regime:

- Condemnations are not enough. It is time to be decisive and impose serious sanctions against the regime in Belarus. The EU still imports fertilisers and other goods. Any trade with Belarus finances the brutal dictatorship - this must be stopped.

Michael Galer, MP from Germany, emphasised the disproportionality of sanctions against Russia and against Belarus:

- Please add to the agenda those sanctions where Belarus serves as a workaround for sanctions against Russia. There are certain positions where we have not imposed sanctions against Belarus, so goods are sent to Belarus and then transported to Russia. I think that civilian lorries are one such example. So, please, take a look at where we can close this existing gap, - said Michael Galer, addressing directly to the representatives of the European Commission, present in the hall.

David McAllister, head of the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, also drew attention to the difference in sanctions against the two regimes:

- The EU should bring sanctions against Lukashenka's regime into exact alignment with sanctions against Russia.

MPs Ondřej Kolář (Czech Republic) and Miriam Lexmann (Slovakia) also spoke about strengthening sanctions against the regime.

In conclusion, European Commissioner Andrius Kubilius urged his colleagues to solidarity with the Belarusians:

- The Belarusian people are fighting for freedom. They deserve more solidarity. Their struggle is our struggle for human dignity, democracy and peace.

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