Opinions & Interviews

Call for Belarus-EU visa waiver agreement in distant future

Vladimir Makei. Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

MINSK, 1 July (BelTA) – It would be a good idea for Belarus and the European Union to sign a visa waiver agreement in the future. Belarusian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Makei made the relevant statement during a videoconference meeting with European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi. The ministers of foreign affairs of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine also took part in the meeting, the press service of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs told BelTA.

Participants of the meeting discussed results of the videoconferences of the ministers of foreign affairs and leaders of the European Union countries and the Eastern Partnership Initiative countries that took place on 11 June and 18 June. Further steps to determine parameters of the initiative’s work after 2020 were discussed, including preparations for a summit of the Eastern Partnership Initiative in 2021.

In his speech Vladimir Makei described the coming into force of the Belarus-EU agreements on visa facilitation and readmission as an important accomplishment of the Eastern Partnership Initiative. He spoke in favor of enabling visa-free travels between the European Union and Belarus in the future.

Vladimir Makei reminded about Belarus’ proposals for the European Union to assist with exporting Eastern Partnership Initiative products to the European market, for increasing the European Union’s investments and creating jobs in partner states, including by means of implementing projects with assistance of international financial institutions.

Vladimir Makei spoke in favor of stepping up connectivity between the European Union and partner countries by means of implementing plans to extend trans-European transport networks and developing a plan for energy links between the European Union and Eastern Partnership countries.

Vladimir Makei suggested adding the acceleration of border-crossing procedures for passengers and vehicles to the list of strategic goals of the Eastern Partnership Initiative. He also reminded about the Belarusian initiative to set up the Eastern Partnership’s regional IT school in Minsk.

print version

make home page

add to bookmarks