Belarus Headlines 26

Debates in the EP on Costs of Schengen Visas for Belarusians and Ukrainians On April 21, at the beginning of the European Parliament’s session in Strasbourg (France), the vice-president of the European Commission, Mr Jacques Barrot, presented a statement on cost of a Schengen visa for citizens of Ukraine and Belarus. His intervention was followed by a debate. On Belarus, the Commissioner said that the current regulations will not be reviewed in the near future. "The opening of discussions on a possible facilitation of issuing visas is not envisaged at this point with Belarus," said Mr Barrot. The commissioner reminded that some exceptions can be made in individual cases. States adjoining Belarus may also negotiate agreements for facilitation of border traffic. For example, such negotiations have already started between Belarus and Poland, Mr Barrot said. The majority of the parliamentarians who spoke during the debate expressed their strong desire to help the people of Belarus gain more access to the European Union. MEPs called on the European Commission to do all in their power to facilitate the visa regime. More travel opportunities for Belarusian citizens would speed up the process of democratisation and create a better climate for a pro-European course of development in Belarus, members urged. “The isolationism of the Belarusian government should not turn into the isolation of the Belarusian people”...

• Месца выхаду: Brussels
• Дата выхаду: 2008-04-10
• Выдавец: Office for a Democratic Belarus
• Copyright: © 2008 by Office for a Democratic Belarus
• Кнігазбор: Kamunikat.org
• Дадатковая даведка: http://www.democraticbelarus.eu Выданьне публікуецца тут за ласкавай згодай Office for a Democratic Belarus