Cheaper EU visas possible after free elections

• 28.01.2010, 9:04

This was said by Jean-Eric Holzapfel, Charge d'affaires of the Delegation of the European Commission to Belarus.

According to him, free and fair elections in Belarus will have a positive impact on relations with the European Union.

Jean-Eric Holzapfel noted at a press conference in Minsk that the delegation didn’t have a mandate for election observation, but it would monitor the conditions of holding the elections to local councils in April 2010 and the presidential elections in early 2011.

The diplomat reminded that democratic elections were one of 12 EU recommendations and “one of the key points of development of relations”. He emphasized that all candidates should have equal access to the media and financing the campaign. He also added the voting process should be transparent.

According to Holzapfel, free and fair elections can promote signing the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement to develop closer trade ties as well as visa facilitation, better access to credit resources, increasing the technical aid and will allow Belarus to become a full participant of the European Neighbourhood Policy.

Besides, a question of suspended visa sanctions on a range of Belarusian officials was still open, the diplomat said.