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Since October 2020, the EU has progressively imposed restrictive measures against Belarus. The measures were adopted in response to the fraudulent nature of the August 2020 presidential elections in Belarus, and the intimidation and violent repression of peaceful protesters, opposition members and journalists. The EU does not recognise results of the Belarus elections, condemning them as neither free, nor fair.
A total of 183 individuals and 26 entities are now designated under the sanctions regime on Belarus. These include Belarusian President, Alexandr Lukashenko and his son and National Security Adviser, Viktor Lukashenko, as well as other key figures of the political leadership and of the government, high-level members of the judicial system and several prominent economic actors.
The Council decided on 4 June to strengthen the existing restrictive measures in view of the situation in Belarus by introducing a ban on the overflight of EU airspace and on access to EU airports by Belarusian carriers of all kinds.
Restrictive measures following the 2020 Belarus presidential elections
Since October 2020, the EU has progressively imposed restrictive measures against Belarus.
The measures were adopted in response to the Belarusian authorities' unacceptable violence against peaceful protesters, intimidation, arbitrary arrests and detentions, following the August 2020 presidential elections.
The EU does not recognise results of the Belarus elections, condemning them as neither free, nor fair.
Anti-establishment protest in Minsk, August 2020
Who are the sanctions targeting?
A total of 183 individuals and 26 entities are now designated under the sanctions regime on Belarus.
The targeted individuals have been identified as responsible for repression and intimidation against peaceful demonstrators, opposition members and journalists in the wake of the 2020 presidential election in Belarus, as well as for misconduct of the electoral process.
A fifth package of EU sanctions over continued human rights abuses and the instrumentalisation of migrants were decided on 2 December 2021.
More information about the EU sanctions against Belarus can be found at the link below.
Instrumentalisation of migrants for political purposes
Following the political upheaval in Belarus and the restrictive measures adopted by the EU, in June 2021 Belarus started to organise flights and internal travel to facilitate the transit of migrants towards the EU, first to Lithuania and then to Latvia and Poland. The majority of migrants were Iraqi, Afghan and Syrian nationals.
Irregular arrivals in Lithuania in 2021 are more than fifty times higher than in 2020. Poland has also seen vastly increased irregular border crossings from Belarus whereas the figures have been much lower in Latvia. Thanks to concerted EU efforts, the number of daily irregular arrivals has dropped sharply. However, the migratory pressure at the border remains high.
On 25 June 2021, EU leaders condemned all attempts by third countries to instrumentalise migrants for political purposes.
Countering the hybrid attack by the Belarusian regime
On 18 August 2021, the Slovenian presidency organised an extraordinary video conference meeting of home affairs ministers within the framework of the Council's crisis response mechanism (IPCR). At the meeting, ministers strongly condemned the use by Belarus of migratory pressure, its contribution to the organisation of illegal border crossings to the EU, and its attempts to instrumentalise human beings for political purposes.
The ministers expressed solidarity with the EU member states affected and supported additional assistance at this section of the EU external border. EU agencies have swiftly provided support, with the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex), the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) and Europol deploying a large number of officers and experts, as well as providing technical equipment.
In addition, the Union Civil Protection Mechanism was activated, thereby mobilising substantial support by member states and other participating states.
Joint outreach efforts continue with the main countries of origin and transit. So far this has led, so far, to the decision by Iraq to suspend flights to Minsk temporarily and to facilitate voluntary returns from Belarus and Lithuania.
At the European Council on 21-22 October 2021, EU leaders said that the EU will continue countering the ongoing hybrid attack launched by the Belarusian regime, including by adopting further restrictive measures against persons and legal entities.
Assistance to vulnerable people at the Belarus border
In November 2021, the EU allocated €700 000 in humanitarian assistance to support vulnerable people stranded at the Belarus border. This consisted of €200 000 for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and a further €500 000 in humanitarian funding. The EU is currently in contact with its partner organisations regarding the implementation of the funds.
Preventing human trafficking and migrant smuggling
On 23 November 2021, the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy proposed new measures to prevent and restrict the activities of transport operators that engage in or facilitate smuggling or trafficking of people into the EU. At the European Council of 16 December 2021, EU leaders called for swift work on this proposal.
On 1 December 2021, the Commission proposed a set of temporary asylum and return measures to assist Latvia, Lithuania and Poland in addressing the emergency situation at the border with Belarus. The measures will allow these member states to establish swift and orderly procedures for managing the situation, in full respect of fundamental rights and international obligations.
In parallel to the sanctions connected to the August 2020 elections, the EU also has other types of sanctions in place against Belarus.
On 17 February 2020, the Council decided to prolong the restrictive measures against Belarus for one year, until 28 February 2021.
These measures include an arms embargo; a ban on the export of goods for internal repression; an asset freeze; and a travel ban against four people listed in connection with the unresolved disappearances of two opposition politicians, one businessman and one journalist in 1999 and in 2000.
The restrictive measures against Belarus were first introduced in 2004 in response to the disappearance of the four persons referred to above. The Council later adopted further restrictive measures against those involved in the violation of international electoral standards and international human rights law, as well as in the crackdown on civil society and democratic opposition. The arms embargo was introduced in 2011.
On 15 February 2016, the Council decided to lift the restrictive measures against 170 individuals and three companies, while maintaining the arms embargo and the sanctions against the four persons. This decision was taken while acknowledging the steps taken by Belarus that have contributed to improving EU-Belarus relations.
