The 6th meeting of the European Union-Belarus Coordination Group took place in Brussels on 12-13 December 2018.
In view of the 2020 Parliamentary and Presidential elections, the EU reiterated the need for Belarus to undertake a comprehensive reform of its electoral legislation, in line with the OSCE/ODIHR and Venice Commission recommendations.
According to the EU Delegation to Belarus, human rights and democracy were an important part of the discussions. Belarus’ increased cooperation in the international fora and willingness to engage with the EU is a positive development, but the EU expects Belarus to fully implement its National Human Rights Action Plan and to improve the situation of freedom of media and of assembly. The EU side also raised several concrete human rights cases at the meeting.
The EU recalled its firm opposition to the death penalty under any circumstances and stressed the benefits of introducing a moratorium as a first step to its abolition.
Belsat.eu, following eeas.europa.eu
