Opinions & Interviews

Ambassador: Belarus does not seek EU membership

Aleksandr Mikhnevich. An archive photo

MINSK, 22 April (BelTA) – Belarus does not seek membership in the European Union, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belarus to Belgium Aleksandr Mikhnevich said during an online lecture for students and academic staff of the International Relations Department at the Belarusian State University on 22 April, BelTA has learned.

“In setting up goals for the development of cooperation between our country and the European Union, we need to take into account several factors, which are mutual expectations of Belarus and the EU from future cooperation, external circumstances, including Belarus' obligations within the framework of other integration associations, as well as ambition, aspiration and readiness of each party to really move towards each other. An important fact is that Belarus does not seek to become a member of the European Union,” said Aleksandr Mikhnevich.

The ambassador added that at the current stage the European Union does not intensify the process of welcoming even candidate countries. The relevant negotiations are quite lengthy.

Belarus is interested in full normalization of relations with the European Union, making this process irreversible, concluding a framework agreement on cooperation with the EU taking into account the current realities of cooperation, expanding the bilateral legal framework of cooperation, gaining unhindered access to the EU market and building mutually beneficial cooperation with the EU and its member states.

Aleksandr Mikhnevich noted that at the official and expert levels Belarus and the EU have highlighted the areas of mutual interest. These include trade and economic cooperation, cooperation in customs and energy security matters, development of transit infrastructure, regulation of food quality based on appropriate standards, investment cooperation, interaction of financial institutions, cooperation in countering human trafficking and illegal migration.

print version

make home page

add to bookmarks