Tsikhanouskaya meets wth EU top officials, bloc allocates extra €30 mln for Belarus’ civil society
On December 12, Belarusian opposition leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Charles Michel, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell as well as with twelve foreign ministers of EU member countries in Brussels.
According to her, they discussed ‘the future of Belarus’, including the bloc’s macro-financial assistance to the country, the prospects for Belarus-EU relations, the role of the Eastern Partnership and steps to support Belarusians’ pursuing freedom.
The European Union representatives have announced allocating extra €30 mln for backing Belarusian media outlets, journalists, youth activists and cultural figures who had to flee Belarus or were forced out of it.
“Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, you are an inspiration to us all. The EU stands by the Belarusian people in their fight for freedom and democracy. Today we are stepping up our support, with an additional €30 million for youth, independent media, SMEs in exile and cultural actors,” President von der Leyen said on Twitter.
The Belarusian people have the legitimate right to determine the future path of their country, and the EU is with them, the top official stressed. She also made mention of a €3 bln economic and investment package that is ‘ready to go for a democratic Belarus’.
