1. Recalling the Council conclusions of 31 January 2011, 20 June 2011, 23 March 2012 and 15 October 2012, the Council highlights the importance it attaches to relations with the Republic of Belarus and its people.
2. At the same time, the Council remains concerned with the situation of human rights in Belarus and recalls that EU-Belarus relations should be based on common values, especially respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law. (Read more...)
The Council of the European Union has suspended for four months the asset freeze and travel ban applying to 170 individuals and the asset freeze applying to three entities in Belarus. This decision was taken in response to the release of all Belarusian political prisoners on 22 August and in the context of improving EU-Belarus relations. The release of all political prisoners was a long-sought step by the European Union.
The Council of the European Union has adopted this decision: the persons listed in the Annex to this Decision shall be added to the list set out in Annex IIIA to Decision 2010/639/CFSP. This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.
EU welcomes the decision of some non-EU states to join the Council Decision to amend the list of officials subject to restrictive measures in Belarus. The following countries have declared that they share the objectives of the relevant Council decisions: the Candidate Countries Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Iceland, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and the EFTA countries Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area.
“The EU condemns the continued detention, trials and sentencing on political grounds of civil society representatives and opposition leaders, including former presidential candidates, in the context of the elections of 19 December 2010. The EU is gravely concerned over allegations of torture and other forms of ill-treatment, intimidation and court irregularities and urges Belarusian authorities to cooperate fully with the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Human Rights Council mechanisms in this regard. In this context, the EU reiterates its call for Belarus to reverse its decision not to renew the mandate of the OSCE Office in Minsk.
COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
Brussels, 3 February 2011
6069/11
from: Latvian delegation
to: Visa Working Party
Subject: Waiver of the long-stay visa fee for Belarus nationals. The Latvian delegation wishes to inform delegations that as of 24 January 2011 Latvia no longercharges a visa fee from the nationals of Belarus who are applying for the long-stay visas at the Latvian diplomatic and consular missions in Belarus.
COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
Brussels, 1 February 2011
5966/11
from: Polish delegation
to: Visa Working Party
Subject: Visa waiver of the long-stay visa fee for Belarus nationals - update of information The Polish delegation wishes to inform delegations that as of 1 January 2011 Poland no longer requires fees for the long-stay visas issued to the nationals of Belarus who are applying for visas in
the Polish Consular offices in Belarus.
The Eastern Partnership constitutes a new development of the European Neighborhood Policy towards Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine. It aims to create the necessary conditions to accelerate political association and further economic integration between the EU and partner countries. The present report summarizes progress made since the first Ministerial meeting of the EaP on 8 December 2009.
"European Union policy on Belarus remains two-pronged: we have put in place restrictive measures targeted at individuals responsible for electoral misconduct and abuse, but we are also open to engaging with a broad range of counterparts, from civil society to the authorities. The Union has sent a clear message that it would be ready to extend to Belarus all the benefits of the European Neighbourhood Policy. It is also true that Minsk would be ready to work with the European Union on fields such as energy and transport. However, concrete cooperation needs to be based on shared values. As long as Belarus is not willing to take the necessary steps to respond to our concerns, for instance the freeing of all political prisoners, such cooperation is not possible."
The Council adopted a common position amending common position 2006/276/CFCP
imposing restrictive measures against certain officials of Belarus by freezing all funds and economic resources of persons who are responsible for the violations of international electoral standards and the crackdown on civil society and the democratic opposition in the context of the 19 March 2006 presidential elections and those natural or legal persons, entities or bodies associated with them, as listed in the annex (8818/06). The common position also specifies that no funds or economic resources shall be made available, directly or indirectly, to or for the benefit of the persons concerned.
1. Recalling the 
The 
The Council of the European Union has adopted this decision: the persons listed in the Annex to this Decision shall be added to the list set out in Annex IIIA to Decision 2010/639/CFSP. This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.
EU welcomes the decision of some non-EU states to join the Council Decision to amend the list of officials subject to restrictive measures in Belarus. The following countries have declared that they share the objectives of the relevant Council decisions: the Candidate Countries Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Iceland, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and the EFTA countries Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area.
“The EU condemns the continued detention, trials and sentencing on political grounds of civil society representatives and opposition leaders, including former presidential candidates, in the context of the elections of 19 December 2010. The EU is gravely concerned over allegations of torture and other forms of ill-treatment, intimidation and court irregularities and urges Belarusian authorities to cooperate fully with the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Human Rights Council mechanisms in this regard. In this context, the EU reiterates its call for Belarus to reverse its decision not to renew the mandate of the OSCE Office in Minsk.
COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
The Eastern Partnership constitutes a new development of the European Neighborhood Policy towards Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine. It aims to create the necessary conditions to accelerate political association and further economic integration between the EU and partner countries. The present report summarizes progress made since the first Ministerial meeting of the EaP on 8 December 2009.
The Council adopted a common position amending common position 2006/276/CFCP