BETA
Home MEPs Dossiers Committees Subjects Blog About Dumps
download json


Events

2008/03/31
   EC - Commission response to text adopted in plenary
Documents
SP(2008)1767
2008/02/21
   EP - Results of vote in Parliament
Documents
Results of vote in Parliament
2008/02/21
   EP - Debate in Parliament
Details

The debate was followed by a vote on a motion for a resolution.

Documents
Debate in Parliament
2008/02/21
   EP - Decision by Parliament
Details

Following the debate on 21 February 2008, the European Parliament adopted a joint resolution on the same date on the political situation in on Belarus and deeply regrets that the situation of democracy, human rights and the rule of law is not improving there. It recalls that it has repeatedly condemned the failed presidential, parliamentary and local elections in Belarus, and points out that continuous arbitrary arrests of members of civil society and opposition activists, notably the temporary detention of Aleksander Milinkevich, and the clampdown of the independent media, contradict the recent rhetoric of the Belarusian Government concerning their wish to improve relations with the EU.

Parliament emphasises that in order to engage in any substantial dialogue with the EU, Belarus needs to fulfil the remaining conditions laid down in the "non-paper" entitled "What the European Union could bring to Belarus", which include the release of all political prisoners, the abolition of the death penalty, an assurance of a free media and freedom of expression, the independence of the judiciary and respect for democratic values and for the basic rights of the Belarusian people. Members condemn the fact that Belarus is the only country in Europe which still has the death penalty.

With regard to political prisoners, Parliament expresses its regret over the sentencing of the journalist Aliaksandr Zdvizhkov to three years’ imprisonment, considering that punishment to be unjustly harsh, and calls on the Belarusian Government to reconsider the decision. It takes note of the recent release of several democratic opposition activists including the leaders of the Youth Movement of the Belarusian Popular Front and Young Front (Malady Front). At the same time, Parliament condemns the arrests of these activists, who were detained for 15 days in prison and faced expulsion from university, following peaceful demonstrations on 16 January 2008 in Minsk to mark the day of solidarity with imprisoned Belarusian opposition activists and the families of missing prominent Belarusians. The Belarusian authorities are asked to release immediately and unconditionally the remaining political prisoner, Alyaksandr Kazulin, and stop using intimidation, harassment, targeted arrests and politically motivated prosecutions against the activists of the democratic opposition and civil society in Belarus;

Belarus is also asked to do the following:

-revoke Decree No 70 of 8 February 2008, provisions of which violate the right to education of Belarusian citizens by creating barriers to entry into higher education institutions;

-implement Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (standards in the organisation of the forthcoming parliamentary elections scheduled for 28 September 2008;

-give democratic opposition representatives access to district election commissions, to grant registration to all parliamentary candidates and their observers, and not to create obstacles for a comprehensive and complete international election observation mission.

Parliament goes on to call on the Council and the Commission to take further steps towards the facilitation of visa procedures for Belarusian citizens, as only such action can help to fulfil the main goal of EU policy towards Belarus, namely to facilitate and intensify people-to-people contacts and to democratise that country. The Council, the Commission and the international community as a whole must extend more support to the civil society of Belarus and, in particular, increase financial aid to the independent media, to non-governmental organisations and to Belarusian students studying abroad. Parliament expresses solidarity with the united democratic opposition of Belarus and the leader of that movement, Aleksander Milinkevich, and all Belarusian citizens who strive for an independent, open and democratic Belarus.

It deplores the decision of the Belarusian authorities to refuse repeatedly entrance visas to the Members of the European Parliament and national parliamentarians in the last couple of years. It also condemns the restrictions imposed by the Belarusian authorities on foreign clergy, aimed at limiting their access to the country to serve religious organisations, and calls on the Belarusian authorities to cease these restrictions.

Documents
T6-0071/2008
2008/02/21
   EP - End of procedure in Parliament
2008/02/19
   EP - Motion for a resolution
Documents
B6-0081/2008
2008/02/19
   EP - Motion for a resolution
Documents
B6-0087/2008
2008/02/19
   EP - Motion for a resolution
Documents
B6-0088/2008
2008/02/19
   EP - Motion for a resolution
Documents
B6-0091/2008
2008/02/19
   EP - Motion for a resolution
Documents
B6-0098/2008
2008/02/19
   Joint motion for resolution
Documents
RC-B6-0081/2008

Documents

Activities

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)

2021-12-18Show (9) Changes | Timetravel
docs/0/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-6-2008-0081_EN.html
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-6-2008-0081_EN.html
docs/1/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-6-2008-0087_EN.html
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-6-2008-0087_EN.html
docs/2/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-6-2008-0088_EN.html
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-6-2008-0088_EN.html
docs/3/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-6-2008-0091_EN.html
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-6-2008-0091_EN.html
docs/4/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-6-2008-0098_EN.html
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-6-2008-0098_EN.html
docs/5/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/RC-6-2008-0081_EN.html
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/RC-6-2008-0081_EN.html
events/1/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20080221&type=CRE
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/EN&reference=20080221&type=CRE
events/2
date
2008-02-21T00:00:00
type
Decision by Parliament
body
EP
docs
url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-6-2008-0071_EN.html title: T6-0071/2008
summary
events/2
date
2008-02-21T00:00:00
type
Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
body
EP
docs
url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-6-2008-0071_EN.html title: T6-0071/2008
summary
2020-01-19Show (8) Changes | Timetravel
docs/0/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&reference=B6-2008-81&language=EN
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-6-2008-0081_EN.html
docs/1/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&reference=B6-2008-87&language=EN
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-6-2008-0087_EN.html
docs/2/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&reference=B6-2008-88&language=EN
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-6-2008-0088_EN.html
docs/3/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&reference=B6-2008-91&language=EN
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-6-2008-0091_EN.html
docs/4/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&reference=B6-2008-98&language=EN
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-6-2008-0098_EN.html
docs/5/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&reference=P6-RC-2008-81&language=EN
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/RC-6-2008-0081_EN.html
docs/6/body
EC
events/2/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P6-TA-2008-71
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-6-2008-0071_EN.html
2019-07-06Show (9) Changes | Timetravel
activities
  • date: 2008-02-21T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=14725&l=en type: Results of vote in Parliament title: Results of vote in Parliament url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20080221&type=CRE type: Debate in Parliament title: Debate in Parliament url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P6-TA-2008-71 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading title: T6-0071/2008 body: EP type: Results of vote in Parliament
committees
    docs
    • date: 2008-02-19T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&reference=B6-2008-81&language=EN title: B6-0081/2008 type: Motion for a resolution body: EP
    • date: 2008-02-19T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&reference=B6-2008-87&language=EN title: B6-0087/2008 type: Motion for a resolution body: EP
    • date: 2008-02-19T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&reference=B6-2008-88&language=EN title: B6-0088/2008 type: Motion for a resolution body: EP
    • date: 2008-02-19T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&reference=B6-2008-91&language=EN title: B6-0091/2008 type: Motion for a resolution body: EP
    • date: 2008-02-19T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&reference=B6-2008-98&language=EN title: B6-0098/2008 type: Motion for a resolution body: EP
    • date: 2008-02-19T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&reference=P6-RC-2008-81&language=EN title: RC-B6-0081/2008 type: Joint motion for resolution
    • date: 2008-03-31T00:00:00 docs: url: /oeil/spdoc.do?i=14725&j=0&l=en title: SP(2008)1767 type: Commission response to text adopted in plenary
    events
    • date: 2008-02-21T00:00:00 type: Results of vote in Parliament body: EP docs: url: https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=14725&l=en title: Results of vote in Parliament
    • date: 2008-02-21T00:00:00 type: Debate in Parliament body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20080221&type=CRE title: Debate in Parliament summary: The debate was followed by a vote on a motion for a resolution.
    • date: 2008-02-21T00:00:00 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P6-TA-2008-71 title: T6-0071/2008 summary: Following the debate on 21 February 2008, the European Parliament adopted a joint resolution on the same date on the political situation in on Belarus and deeply regrets that the situation of democracy, human rights and the rule of law is not improving there. It recalls that it has repeatedly condemned the failed presidential, parliamentary and local elections in Belarus, and points out that continuous arbitrary arrests of members of civil society and opposition activists, notably the temporary detention of Aleksander Milinkevich, and the clampdown of the independent media, contradict the recent rhetoric of the Belarusian Government concerning their wish to improve relations with the EU. Parliament emphasises that in order to engage in any substantial dialogue with the EU, Belarus needs to fulfil the remaining conditions laid down in the "non-paper" entitled "What the European Union could bring to Belarus", which include the release of all political prisoners, the abolition of the death penalty, an assurance of a free media and freedom of expression, the independence of the judiciary and respect for democratic values and for the basic rights of the Belarusian people. Members condemn the fact that Belarus is the only country in Europe which still has the death penalty. With regard to political prisoners, Parliament expresses its regret over the sentencing of the journalist Aliaksandr Zdvizhkov to three years’ imprisonment, considering that punishment to be unjustly harsh, and calls on the Belarusian Government to reconsider the decision. It takes note of the recent release of several democratic opposition activists including the leaders of the Youth Movement of the Belarusian Popular Front and Young Front (Malady Front). At the same time, Parliament condemns the arrests of these activists, who were detained for 15 days in prison and faced expulsion from university, following peaceful demonstrations on 16 January 2008 in Minsk to mark the day of solidarity with imprisoned Belarusian opposition activists and the families of missing prominent Belarusians. The Belarusian authorities are asked to release immediately and unconditionally the remaining political prisoner, Alyaksandr Kazulin, and stop using intimidation, harassment, targeted arrests and politically motivated prosecutions against the activists of the democratic opposition and civil society in Belarus; Belarus is also asked to do the following: -revoke Decree No 70 of 8 February 2008, provisions of which violate the right to education of Belarusian citizens by creating barriers to entry into higher education institutions; -implement Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (standards in the organisation of the forthcoming parliamentary elections scheduled for 28 September 2008; -give democratic opposition representatives access to district election commissions, to grant registration to all parliamentary candidates and their observers, and not to create obstacles for a comprehensive and complete international election observation mission. Parliament goes on to call on the Council and the Commission to take further steps towards the facilitation of visa procedures for Belarusian citizens, as only such action can help to fulfil the main goal of EU policy towards Belarus, namely to facilitate and intensify people-to-people contacts and to democratise that country. The Council, the Commission and the international community as a whole must extend more support to the civil society of Belarus and, in particular, increase financial aid to the independent media, to non-governmental organisations and to Belarusian students studying abroad. Parliament expresses solidarity with the united democratic opposition of Belarus and the leader of that movement, Aleksander Milinkevich, and all Belarusian citizens who strive for an independent, open and democratic Belarus. It deplores the decision of the Belarusian authorities to refuse repeatedly entrance visas to the Members of the European Parliament and national parliamentarians in the last couple of years. It also condemns the restrictions imposed by the Belarusian authorities on foreign clergy, aimed at limiting their access to the country to serve religious organisations, and calls on the Belarusian authorities to cease these restrictions.
    • date: 2008-02-21T00:00:00 type: End of procedure in Parliament body: EP
    links
    other
      procedure/legal_basis/0
      Rules of Procedure EP 135
      procedure/legal_basis/0
      Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 135
      procedure/subject
      Old
      • 6.10.04 Third-country political situation, local and regional conflicts
      • 6.10.08 Fundamental freedoms, human rights, democracy in general
      New
      6.10.04
      Third-country political situation, local and regional conflicts
      6.10.08
      Fundamental freedoms, human rights, democracy in general
      2015-11-04Show (1) Changes | Timetravel
      procedure/subject/0
      Old
      6.10.04 Third-countries political situation, local and regional conflicts
      New
      6.10.04 Third-country political situation, local and regional conflicts
      2014-11-10Show (5) Changes
      activities
      • date: 2008-02-21T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=14725&l=en type: Results of vote in Parliament title: Results of vote in Parliament url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20080221&type=CRE type: Debate in Parliament title: Debate in Parliament url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P6-TA-2008-71 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading title: T6-0071/2008 body: EP type: Results of vote in Parliament
      committees
        links
        other
          procedure
          geographical_area
          Belarus
          reference
          2008/2534(RSP)
          title
          Resolution on Belarus
          legal_basis
          Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 135
          stage_reached
          Procedure completed
          subtype
          Urgent debate or resolution
          type
          RSP - Resolutions on topical subjects
          subject
          @parltrack
          @parltrack@eupolicy.social
          [javascript protected email address]
          code AGPLv3.0+
          data ODBLv1.0
          site content CC-By-Sa-3.0

          ParlTrack - 2011-2024

          © European Union, 2011 – Source: European Parliament
          Hosted by AS250.net Foundation