Head of pro-government trade union federation calls on EU to cut visa fees for Belarusians
20.11.2009 | Publications
Leanid
Kozik, head of the pro-government Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus (FTUB),
called on the European Union to cut Schengen visa fees for Belarusian citizens
when he was speaking at the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum that began
in
Mr. Kozik said that
Brussels should consider reducing the fees for Belarusians and
nationals of other countries that participate in the Eastern
Partnership and later scrap them entirely.
“The proposal was eagerly supported by representatives of Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova,” the FTUB press office said.
The
discussion about the matter lasted “several hours,” resulting into a
decision to document the proposal and submit it for consideration to
“an appropriate commission.”
Mr. Kozik also called on the EU
to give back Belarus trade benefits under the Generalized System of
Preferences, which Brussels suspended in 2006 over alleged violations
of trade union rights in the country.
The press office said
that the “idea was eagerly backed as well.” “Given the interest in the
matter, one should assume that further discussions will follow,” the
press office quoted Mr. Kozik as saying.
About 240 NGOs in the
six post-Soviet countries involved in the European Union’s Eastern
Partnership program, namely Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia,
Moldova and Ukraine, are represented at the two-day Civil Society
Forum, which was organized by Sweden, the current holder of the EU’s
rotating presidency.
The Belarusian delegation reportedly
consists of representatives of a total of 27 NGOs, including the
Movement for Freedom, the Khartyya-97 (Charter ’97) group, the
Belarusian Association of Journalists, and the Belarusian Assembly of
Non-Governmental Organizations. //BelaPAN
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