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Gunnar Wiegand said it was not his first visit to Belarus. “I’ve come here together with my colleagues in order to discuss the steps we can take together with the Belarus government for the sake of deepening and improving our relations,” he said.

The official also mentioned he had met with Belarusian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Alena Kupchyna earlier that day. In his words, an agenda for modernizing the relations was agreed. The agenda included seven main topics. The number included, in particular, privatization, trade and investments, environment, power engineering, transport, social development, and human rights. Eleven priority actions the sides should undertake in these areas were worked out.

A delegation of experts is in Minsk for the sake of preparing the European Union’s annual action plan for Belarus for 2016. In other words, it is a program for Belarus-EU cooperation with the European Union’s financial assistance. The delegation is led by Mathieu Bousquet, Head of the Eastern Neighborhood Department of the Directorate-General for European Neighborhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR).

Gunnar Wiegand mentioned readiness to double financial aid to Belarus in 2016. In his words, these matters were discussed on 9 December including with representatives of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. On 10 December these matters will be discussed with representatives of the Economy Ministry. Gunnar Wiegand also mentioned the possibility of assisting Belarus with accession to the WTO. Additional loans for Belarus from international institutions were mentioned as well.

“We hope we are now on the way of gradual improvement of relations between Belarus and the European Union,” stressed the representative of the European External Action Service. Gunnar Wiegand also noted: “We are intent on talking to as many people as possible in the government, the general public, and the business community. We are intent on cooperating and hope it will allow securing the best results.”

A delegation of representatives of the European External Action Service (EEAS), the Directorate-General for European Neighborhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR) of the European Commission, and the Directorate-General for Trade (DG Trade) of the European Commission is in Minsk on 9-10 December on a working visit. The delegation is led by Gunnar Wiegand and Katarina Mathernova, DG NEAR Deputy Director General. Members of the delegation are expected to meet with representatives of the Belarus government, heads of diplomatic missions of the European Union member states, and representatives of international organizations for the sake of evaluating the state of Belarus-EU affairs and discussing further steps.