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EU to consider joint interim plan of dialogue with Belarus

The European Union will consider a "joint interim plan" of structural dialogue with Belarus in the spheres of politics and economy this fall, Stefan Fule, the European Union's commissioner for enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy, told reporters after his talks with Belarusian Foreign Minister Syarhey Martynaw in Minsk on Friday, as quoted by BelaPAN.

He said that the plan would be a political agreement but would not be legally binding.

Describing the document as a "so-called roadmap," Mr. Fule said that it would set out commitments for both Minsk and Brussels. He stressed that the plan was not meant to replace cooperation agreements that Belarus and the EU could sign in the future.

M. Martynaw noted that the text of the plan had not been under discussion at the meeting as the European Commission had yet to finalize it.

He emphasized the importance of creating a legal framework governing relations between Belarus and the EU. The two sides are now in "preliminary talks" on a partnership and cooperation agreement. "It is obvious that we will have to go a certain way for this," the minister said.

Speaking at a news conference before his departure on Friday, Mr. Fule stressed that the joint interim plan would take into account the opinion of not only the Belarusian authorities but also of the country's civil society and opposition.

"I don't remember a country where the opinions of the authorities, civil society and opposition would fully coincide. They differ on many issues in Minsk," he said.

The commissioner noted that apart from holding meetings with Belarus' top officials, he had also met EU diplomats based in Minsk, as well as civil society activists and opposition leaders during his two-day visit. "All this is needed for a better understanding of the situation here and discussions of our proposals," he said.

Mr. Fule expressed certainty that the EU could do more to develop relations with Belarus and ensure that the country uses the potential of the Eastern Partnership program in full.

"Only no more than 10 percent of this potential is used at present. I believe that the situation may change if we continue supporting Belarus on its path of reforms," he said, adding that the development of bilateral relations should be based on such fundamental values as democracy, human rights and rule of law.

The EU commissioner would not speak in detail about his meeting with Mr. Lukashenka and say whether the subject of political prisoners had been raised. However, he said that the matter had been discussed "several times" during his visit.