EU and Belarus Six Months After: Achievements and Challenges Ahead. 4 March 2009.

The political progress achieved in Belarus during the six months visa ban suspension period is largely cosmetic, and can be easily reversed. Nevertheless, it is essential to build on the positive dynamics accumulated since the beginning of the dialogue between the EU and the Belarusian government. The EU should therefore give Belarusian authorities a second chance and extend the sanctions suspension period for another six months. This was the dominant opinion expressed by the representatives of Belarusian civil society during the debate on the situation in Belarus and the future of EU-Belarus relations that took place at the European Parliament on 4 March 2009.