Friday 29 March 2024 | 15:42

European Dialogue on Modernization with Belarus: view from Brussels

18.04.2013  |  Politics   |  Alena Zuikova, the representative of the International Consortium "EuroBelarus" in Brussels,  
European Dialogue on Modernization with Belarus: view from Brussels

One year passed since “European Dialogue on Modernization” (EDM) has started. However, the Dialogue does not head the list of foreign policy agenda of the European Union.

During this time the Dialogue was actively evolving in Belarus - subject groups were working, different meetings organized by the EU delegation and Belarusian National Platform of the EaP CSF were held in Minsk, several seminars were conducted in the EU countries.

On April 9 the conference devoted to the discussion of EDM took place in European Parliament. The subject to discuss was an evaluation of effectiveness of EDM after a year of its work. Since the launching of EDM it was the first top-level public event devoted to the discussion of the dialogue itself, its place and importance for the relationships between the EU and Belarus, its strong and weak sides.

The conference was organized by the faction of European People's Party. It should be noted that there are quite few delegates in the Parliament who are actively involved in Belarusan issues. The delegation of the Parliament on European-Belarusian affairs includes 12 delegates, only 4-5 of which work on a regular basis. EDM anniversary became a good occasion for the delegation to hold a public meeting and draw wider attention of the EU delegates to Belarus. Attracting attention and information sharing can be considered the main tasks of this conference. Neither the meeting format nor little involvement of the delegates into EDM over the past period had allowed them to take a close look at this tool. The delegation managed to cope with the task: quite wide range of delegates took part in the conference including high-ranking officials, like Jacek Protasiewicz (Vice-President of the European Parliament), Elmar Brok (chairman of the largest Foreign Affairs Committee in European Union) and others.

Rapporteur on Belarus Justas Paleckis also participated in the conference. Even the speaker’s affiliation to the socialist faction did not provoke contradictions between him and other participants. This is of importance for the report which was prepared by Mr. Paleckis. Two major factions of the European Parliament favor different approaches towards Belarus. The right faction, the largest one, claims to increase the pressure on Lukashenka’s regime. The left one, second in size, is rather a supporter of the moderate course, taking care that the EU policy would not lead to the complete isolation of Belarus. These differences can possibly result in contradictions during the voting on the issue; however, current situation presupposes compromise of all the factions.

Among the participants those who are actively involved both in EDM and in the process of making decisions on it were present. In this regard the last year report was analyzed and future steps on further development of the Dialogue received publicity. Gunnar Wiegand, the director of a division of European External Action Service, reported that in the following year some funds will be allocated for the EDM (500,000 euro). It should be mentioned that before that the Dialogue had been run without any financing. Jerzy Pomianowski (the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland, executive officer of the European Foundation for Democracy) in his turn announced a possibility of creation of two new directions – a special format for training and sharing experiences for the representatives of the local authorities and different professional groups. These statements testify to the fact that EU is not going to close the Dialogue or confine it only to relations with the authorities (as proposed the Belarusian officials). Andrei Yahorau, co-coordinator of the 1st EDM working group, also supported the idea of EDM as the finest tool to reach the public consensus on the Belarusan modernization issue. The alternative to such conventional modernization is an authoritarian modernization, which, according to him, would not lead to the progress in political reforms.

Besides, the representatives of the Belarusan opposition parties and movements took part in the conference. During the last year their participation in EDM wasn’t active and was limited to several meetings organized in Minsk and in the EU countries.  For this reason they are ill-informed about the realities of EDM and don’t have any meaningful suggestions on its future development. The opposition leaders preferred to talk about Belarusian-European relations in general and from quite different points of view.

So from the Brussels prospective the conference was successful and passed without any surprises. The organizers didn’t specify that to cope with problems and find solutions was the point of the conference; they rather put emphasis on awareness creation and opinion sharing.

A row over the EDM conference, which erupted on Belarusan media, became the only annoying surprise. Just before the conference the BPF Party, the movement “For Freedom”and “Tell the Truth” civil campaign made a statement to the EU. The announcement of the three parties and Andrej Sannikau’s response to it provoked both the media row and an essential shift of emphasis from the disputes about the conference itself to heated discussion over the appropriateness of any dialogue between EU and Belarus at all considering the existence of political prisoners in Belarus.

This announcement was aimed at the Brussels interlocutors, who willingly support the demonstration of cooperation, but at the same time its topic did not have strong connections with the European Dialogue on Modernization. The only connection of this announcement with EDM is that the signers express full support towards this initiative, in such a way indicating that they belong to the process. This announcement also cannot be called revolutionary or at least innovative. This is not the first declaration of its kind; for instance, “The Brussels declaration” adopted in October 2012 can be recalled here.

This media row had a notable negative influence for EDM, as a matter of fact the discussion of the Dialogue in Belarus failed because of it. The opinions of competent specialists created little stir in Mass Media due to a stream of competing accusations of the opposition leaders, and the Dialogue itself received slightly negative estimation in Belarusan independent media.

Nevertheless, the attitude of Brussels towards the European Dialogue on Modernization is at large very positive.  The initiative is supported both by the EU bodies and other EU member states and this positive context can be used to attract more attention to Belarus in general. The discordance of media attitudes between Brussels and Minsk creates an additional negative side effect and increases the general fatigue from “the Belarusan question” among the European politicians. Among other issues, this will strengthen the position of those who stick to simple decisions on Belarus, like freezing of cooperation on a state-by-state basis or leaving Belarus in the Russian area of influence. The supporters of more complicated and subtle approaches towards the multi-stakeholder’s dialogue between the opposition, the civil society, the Belarusan government and the European Union along with preservation of Belarus in the EU Russian area of influence, will be in a minority. If the promotion of the Belarusan question is desired, Minsk pro-European forces should weigh the public consequences of undertaken actions more carefully.

Other news section «Politics»

Andrei Yahorau — Al Jazeera: “Lukashenko is irresponsible”
Andrei Yahorau — Al Jazeera: “Lukashenko is irresponsible”
He said Belarus would likely face economic tightening not only as a result of the coronavirus pandemic but also a Russian trade oil crisis that worsened this past winter.
Shhh! Belarus Wants You to Think It’s Turning Over a New Leaf
Shhh! Belarus Wants You to Think It’s Turning Over a New Leaf
Minsk’s muddled media clampdown could jeopardize warming of relations with the West.
Statement of the BNP in connection with the wave of searches in the editorial offices of the Belarus
Statement of the BNP in connection with the wave of searches in the editorial offices of the Belarus
The Belarusan National Platform of the EaP CSF issued a statement in connection with the wave of searches in the editorial offices of the Belarusan media and the detention of journalists.
Statement of the Belarusan EaP CSF National Platform on solidarity with the civil society of Armenia
Statement of the Belarusan EaP CSF National Platform on solidarity with the civil society of Armenia
The Belarusan National Platform of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum issued a statement on solidarity with the civil society of Armenia.
"Vilnius Consultations": Key points and recommendations on the future of EU Eastern Partnership
"Vilnius Consultations": Key points and recommendations on the future of EU Eastern Partnership
On September 11, the inaugural „Vilnius Consultations“ conference was organized by Vilnius Institute for Policy Analysis and Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
From farewell to a new Eastern policy and towards a new development
From farewell to a new Eastern policy and towards a new development
Poland and Germany were both initiators and drivers of a New Eastern policy linked to the Eastern neighborhood and Russia/Soviet Union.
Uladzimir Matskevich: The sooner the "Union State" is denounced, the better for Belarus
Uladzimir Matskevich: The sooner the "Union State" is denounced, the better for Belarus
Not only does the "Union State" undermine the establishment of civilized relations with Europe, but it hinders the possibility of normal relations between Belarus and Russia.
Uladzimir Matskevich: The regime can no longer control the situation in the country
Uladzimir Matskevich: The regime can no longer control the situation in the country
The authorities are unable to prolong the social contract with the people: there is no way out of the social crisis.
Press release in connection with the dialogue in the format of the EU-Belarus Coordination Group
Press release in connection with the dialogue in the format of the EU-Belarus Coordination Group
Belarusan National Platform of the EaP CSF welcomes the dialogue process in the format of the EU-Belarus Coordination Group, the third round of which was held in Minsk on 3-4 April 2017.
Statement of the BNP in connection with the events of March 25-26, 2017 in Minsk and other Belarusan
Statement of the BNP in connection with the events of March 25-26, 2017 in Minsk and other Belarusan
Belarusan National Platform of the EaP CSF issued a statement in connection with the events of March 25-26, 2017 in Minsk and other Belarusan cities.
Statement by the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum on mass repressions in Belarus
Statement by the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum on mass repressions in Belarus
The EaP CSF Steering Committee issued a statement on repressions against civil society activists and journalists in Belarus, in view of the demonstrations planned on 25 March 2017.
Uladzimir Matskevich: Belarus-Ukraine relations need to be re-established
Uladzimir Matskevich: Belarus-Ukraine relations need to be re-established
"Case of Zhadan" demonstrated that Belarus does not actually have a clear policy - neither domestic nor foreign.
Belarus
Belarus's Lukashenko alleges “fifth column” plot as unrest continues
Belarusan President Lukashenko said on Tuesday a “fifth column” was plotting to overthrow him with the help of foreign-backed fighters, days before a planned street protest in Minsk against a new tax.
In Belarus, a rising fear: Will we be the next Ukraine?
In Belarus, a rising fear: Will we be the next Ukraine?
The relationship between Russia and Belarus has never been an easy one.
Andrei Yahorau: European window of opportunity is slowly closing, relations take form of fatigue
Andrei Yahorau: European window of opportunity is slowly closing, relations take form of fatigue
The Belarusian regime is not able to pursue a truly multi-vector policy, and the EU cannot decide what it needs in the region on the whole and from Belarus in particular.
Uladzimir Matskevich: Today Belarus is in a very difficult situation
Uladzimir Matskevich: Today Belarus is in a very difficult situation
But even under the circumstances the authorities have various ways out.
Uladzimir Matskevich: Lukashenka does not disrupt Russian plans to annex Belarus
Uladzimir Matskevich: Lukashenka does not disrupt Russian plans to annex Belarus
But Lukashenka is afraid for his fate and position - he needs Belarus to be sovereign to fully exercise his power.
Andrei Yeliseyeu: Russia is taking drastic unconstructive steps  
Andrei Yeliseyeu: Russia is taking drastic unconstructive steps  
There should be no actual passport control for the Belarusians arriving in Russia within the framework of the existing Belarusian-Russian agreements.
Uladzimir Matskevich: Visa-free regime is not a political concession to the West
Uladzimir Matskevich: Visa-free regime is not a political concession to the West
It is a process of normalization of Belarus-EU relations. Belarus just fulfils its international commitments.
Andrei Yahorau: Belarusian regime is self-improving, the only threat so far is the economy crisis
Andrei Yahorau: Belarusian regime is self-improving, the only threat so far is the economy crisis
Political analyst emphasizes that Belarus is the first modern authoritarianism in the European space, a phenomenon not yet studied by anyone.
Gintautas Mažeikis: The relation of political field and arena in the framework of information war

In his report, philosopher Gintautas Mažeikis discusses several concepts that have been a part of the European social and philosophical thought for quite a time.

“It is our big joint work”

It is impossible to change life in cities just in three years (the timeline of the “Agenda 50” campaign implementation). But changing the structure of relationships in local communities is possible.

Shhh! Belarus Wants You to Think It’s Turning Over a New Leaf

Minsk’s muddled media clampdown could jeopardize warming of relations with the West.

Mikhail Matskevich: How to create a local agenda and make it a problem solving tool

To achieve changes, you need to be interested in them and stop pinning all hopes on the state.