Benita Ferrero-Waldner: “We want to work directly for Belarusian people”
- 16.11.2007, 10:03
On November 15 the European Parliament approved admission of 9 new EU members to Schengen zone since December 21. European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy Benita Ferrero-Waldner has been asked whether the EU would change its attitude towards Belarus after expansion of Schengen zone.
While discussing the issue some parliamentarian from the new EU countries drew attention to the fact that the expansion of the borders of the Schengen treaty could follow in deterioration of their relations with neighbouring countries, in particular with Belarus, Ukraine and Russia. It could happen in connection with tightened border control and imposing longer and more expensive visa procedures.
The European policy of good neighbourhood exists since 2004. Benita Ferrero-Waldner is on charge of the European neighbourhood policy. This policy has been adopted in connection with enlargement of the EU in the East in order to prevent emersion of new barriers between the EU and its non-members.
EU is set to continue Neighbourhood policy
The main objective of the European neighbourhood policy is to encircle the EU with stable and friendly states and help them in establishing principles of democracy and human rights. The Republic of Belarus is among the countries with which the EU is set to continue good neighbourhood policy, despite of the difficulties emerging in talks with representatives of the official Minsk.
Answering the question of Deutsche Welle about whether it is possible to make neighbourhood policy with such a tricky leader as Alyaksandr Lukashenka real, Benita Ferrero-Waldner answered: “Firstly, we have prepared a kind of an unofficial document which clearly shows what we can offer the Belarusian people in the framework of the European neighbourhood policy”.
What is necessary for resumption of talks
As said by Benita Ferrero-Waldner, this document has been brought up for discussion for representatives of the Belarusian authorities and Belarusian people. “We want to carry out our activities directly for Belarus and for the Belarusian people. Unfortunately, our proposal so far hasn’t been supported by the Belarusian regime, and a number of requirements necessary for implementing the plan in the framework of the European neighbourhood policy or resuming talk haven’t been fulfilled yet,” she noted.
As said by Benita Ferrero-Waldner, European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, at the moment the EU works on opening a representation of the European Commission. She has expressed a hope that this body of the EU in Belarus would help the European politicians to establish contacts with the county.
“We have received an agreement in principle to our proposal to open a representation of the Eurocommission in Minsk from the Belarusian officials, but obviously the process of realization of this plan will take a long time. We have been said that the parliament of the country should have a vote first,” Benita Ferrero-Waldner noted. Despite of the process being dragged out, she hopes that the European Commission soon will be able to work in Belarus immediately on-site. “It will give us a possibility to establish a closer contact with the Belarusian people”.
What does expansion of Schengen zone means for Belarus?
The upcoming expansion of Schengen zone is relevant for the EU in the framework of its European Neighbourhood policy with non-members of the EU. 9 states which joined the EU in May 2004, will enter Schengen zone in December. They are Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia and Malta. Implementing the agreement will cause lifting control at internal land and sea borders of member countries. People will be able to travel without border checks and control.
Will it influence the relations of the EU with Belarus, as Belarus will become an immediate neighbour of the Schengen space? Answering this question, Benita Ferrero-Waldner expressed herself in favour of lower price for European visas for Belarusian citizens: “It is clear that free movement of citizens will be guaranteed inside Schengen zone. Outside Schengen zone borders will be protected by visa regime,” the European Commissioner said.