MINSK, 18 June (BelTA) – Belarus has huge potential to develop its digital sector, Director of the Eastern Partnership Department at the European Commission's Directorate-General for Neighborhood and Enlargements Negotiations Lawrence Meredith said in an interview with the ONT TV channel, BelTA has learned.
“We see huge potential for the digital sector in Belarus. I think you have very experienced young people who work in this sector. It is Belarus that has suggested making this sector a priority for the Eastern Partnership,” he said and noted that thanks to this the work in the sector became more active.
The representative of the European Commission said that the agreement on the priorities of the partnership between Belarus and the EU through 2020 is in its final stage. “We have a common goal which is to improve relations between Belarus and the European Union. I think that very soon we will finalize the so-called agreement on cooperation priorities. It will be the first agreement, and I hope that it will help us improve our work,” said Lawrence Meredith. He pointed out that the intensification of cooperation would also contribute to the Belarusian visa policy, which will provide both tourists and business from the European Union with an opportunity to visit Belarus.
According to Lawrence Meredith, the government of Belarus plays an important role in the Eastern Partnership initiative.
As BelTA reported earlier, European Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn and European Commissioner for Digital Economy Mariya Gabriel are expected to visit Minsk on 21-22 June to take part in an informal ministerial dialogue of the Eastern Partnership member states. The meetings will focus on the idea to harmonize the digital markets of the Eastern Partnership and the European Union.