David Lidington: Democratic Belarus will join the EU

• 3.09.2010, 9:44

The UK Minister for Europe has named the conditions of Belarus’ joining the EU.

If ever in the future Belarus would match economic and political criteria, it could become the EU member. Such an opinion about possibilities for the country which regime is called “the last dictatorship of Europe”, to join the EU, has been expressed by David Lidington, the UK’s Minister for Europe, on Thursday at the lecture in the Institute of International Affairs of Vilnius University, ru.DELFI.lt reports.

As said by him, it can happen only in the case when Belarus would like to become the EU member itself, and create democratic political system, in which political parties would act freely, an independent judicial system would work; freedom of speech, assembly and other democratic freedoms would exist.

“To my mind, membership in the EU should be open for every European country which wants to join, and which is the most important thing, matches the criteria. In such conditions membership in the EU should be open for every European country. But I had never had doubts that the EU membership should not be independent from the circumstances.

Any country, which comes to the EU, must answer criterions of admission, not only in terms of economy modernization, but we should speak about an independent judicial system, freedom of the media, assembly, a democratic political system, in which political parties would act freely, with a possibility to take part in the elections freely. All these criteria are basic,” David Lidington said answering the questions.

According to statements of the British minister, the last 20 years have demonstrated that a desire to join the EU can be a good momentum for democratization of the country. It is clear by the example of Eastern and Central European countries, Spain and Greece.