Belarusian-European cooperation: the vision and estimation of the European partners

The continuation of the research on the materials of the interview, conducted within the framework of the “Support to the development of the potential and network cooperation of Belarusian NGOs and the local authorities” project in April – September 2007. The interviewed were representing major NGOs of the European countries, which took part in EU and EU member countries’ projects. 

The representatives of European organizations, participating in Belarusian-European cooperation estimate current situation mostly as complex, sometimes even “a dead end”. Though most of the respondents have a great experience in working with Belarusian side, results are estimated in a reserved manner. Estimation of the result, in the end, depends on sphere of activity of partner organization and on the scale of goals of cooperation, subjectively set and understood by the respondents.

       In general, from European side cooperation with Belarus looks like naturally needed process, based not just on geographical, but also on cultural similarity (“It is unnatural for Belarus not to be a part of Europe”, “When looking on the map of Europe no one understands why Belarus doesn’t belong to Europe”). At the same time some respondents, who have a lot of experience of long-time cooperation with Belarus and a deeper knowledge of Belarus and Belarusians note that Belarus must, firstly, make its own choice, define its way of development, “its own image of the future”. The lack of the historical and geopolitical self-defining of Belarus is, in their opinion, one of the main reasons, hampering effective cooperation.

       “Сommon home” was clarified in respondents’ minds by a wide spectre of objectives, set in the process of cooperation: from cultural exchange and spreading of the European values in broad sense, to transit of democracy and pressing the Belarusian regime to change the political situation in the country.

       As a factor, positively influencing cooperation from European side, the Europeans’ interest in Belarus was mentioned most often, and it included interest of both European organizations and civil society institutions, and of governments and major EU-structures. But not all of the respondents share this opinion; some say that, on the contrary, “Europe had little interest in Belarus” recently. Boost of the spread of information, rise in numbers of international contacts, exchanges etc. could also be called one of the factors, promoting cooperation. “Desire of civil society for democratic change” was practically the only positive factor in Belarus, named during interviews.

       The list of negative factors is way longer. The main barriers, hampering effective cooperation from European side were, in respondents’ view, stereotyping and lack of information about Belarus, information, which could allow estimating current situation in the country and results of the cooperation. The above given way to another serious problem in cooperation – the problem of trust. Peculiarities of the conditions in Belarus, which don’t provide transparency in legal and financial aspects and often for estimation of the results of the actions, leads to distrust in the European institutions and organizations, used to working under open conditions. Understanding of this situation as a part of the reality causes creation of new approaches to cooperation (“experience of work with Belarus makes European approaches problematic”), but that doesn’t always happen this way. In addition, it is hard for participants of cooperation, who see the situation “from inside”, to make the EU officials understand the need for a change in the set schemes of operation. Bureaucracy and lack of flexibility in EU structures are, in some people’s opinion, one of the major factors, undermining effectiveness of many Belarus-oriented programs.

       They find many drawbacks in EU policy towards Belarus. One of the named factors was lack of special institutions, focused on Belarus, and as a result lack of coordination and effectiveness in cooperation. Rising visa costs and restrictions on entering of Belarusian officials to European Union were estimated negatively.

       Negative factors on Belarusian side could be divided to two categories. The first one includes conditions, characterizing political situation and system of Belarusian government. It is, firstly, the “absence of interest” in cooperation from Belarusian authorities (sometimes it is explained like “the government in Belarus doesn’t want any changes or is afraid of them”), the lack of understanding of importance and benefits from the cooperation on all the levels of government, lack of diplomatic skills, absence of formed political and professional elites in Belarus, legal barriers etc. The second one regards “mass conscience” of Belarusians: lack of civil activity, disbelief in own strength, fear, disability to solve problems with government. A separate factor, hampering the process of cooperation is security of both Belarusian and European participants.

       Though there are many problems and difficulties in cooperation, the perspectives of its development are estimated with optimism. But there is a feeling that this optimism is based not on strategic vision of the process, but viewing it from the point of values. The answers to the questions “What could Belarus give to Europe (both positive and negative) and Europe to Belarus under the conditions of cooperation development?” serve as vivid examples. The main perspectives of cooperation are described as “widening the horizons”, “experience exchange”, “spreading European values”, which means value basis of the European policy. An interesting fact, that when asked about possible actions which could help the development of cooperation in Belarus and Europe, the respondents named changes of different scale (mostly on state level), localized in Belarus, so though EU policy is criticized, no constructive ideas for its improvement are named.

       On our side we hope that results of this first survey will help Belarusian partners to view themselves with the eyes of their European colleagues and will stimulate more intensive and open communication between Belarusian and European organizations and civil society initiatives. 

       Oksana Shelest

       Tatiana Poshevalova, [email protected]