The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, named in honour of the Soviet physicist and political dissident Andrei Sakharov, is awarded each year by the European Parliament. It was set up in 1988 to honour individuals and organisations defending human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Each nominee must have the support of at least 40 MEPs, and each individual Member may support only one nominee. Signed nominations accompanied by supporting evidence are then assessed in a joint meeting of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), the Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI) and the Committee on Development (DEVE). A shortlist of three candidates is drawn up through a vote by AFET and DEVE committees, and then submitted to the Conference of Presidents for a final vote. The winner is announced in October, and the award ceremony takes place in December at the plenary sitting in Strasbourg.

The nominations for the 2020 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought are:

The democratic opposition in Belarus, represented by the Coordination Council, initiative of brave women and political and civil society figures, nominated by EPP, S&amp;D, Renew Europe 
Mgr Najeeb Moussa Michaeel, Archbishop of Mosul, Iraq nominated by ID 
Guapinol activists and Berta Caceres in Honduras, nominated by Greens/EFA, GUE/NGL 
The democratic opposition in Belarus, represented by Sviatlana Tsikhanouska, nominated by ECR 
Polish LGBTI activists Jakub Gawron, Paulina Pajak, Paweł Preneta and Kamil Maczuga, founders of the website Atlas of Hate, nominated by Malin Björk, Terry Reintke, Marc Angel, Rasmus Andresen and 39 other MEPs.

The democratic opposition in Belarus has been awarded the 2020 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.

Democratic Opposition in Belarus, Sakharov Prize 2020

Since October 2020, the EU has&nbsp;progressively imposed restrictive measures&nbsp;against Belarus in response to the fraudulent nature&nbsp; presidential elections in&nbsp;2020, and the&nbsp;intimidation and violent repression&nbsp;of peaceful protesters, opposition members and journalists.&nbsp;

The democratic opposition, including the opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, was awarded the&nbsp;2020 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.

The Belarusian regime has became an ally&nbsp;with Russia’s illegal war on Ukraine. This includes the so-called referendum reinstating the country’s nuclear status, but also that Belarus has allowed Russian troops and weapons to move through its territory, use its airspace, refuel and store military ammunition.

Therefore, the EU has extended the sanctios package against Russia to Belarus. The EP has recently called that "all EU sanctions issued against Russia must be strictly mirrored for Belarus and implemented appropriately".

EU - Belarus

During their meeting on 30-31 May 2022, EU leaders discussed continued EU support to Ukraine, particularly humanitarian, financial, material and political support. The leaders were joined by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy via video conference for a discussion at the beginning of the summit. 
The European Council is committed to intensify pressure on Russia and Belarus to thwart Russia’s war against Ukraine. The European Council called on all countries to align with EU sanctions. 
The  leaders agreed that the sixth package of sanctions against Russia will cover crude oil, as well as petroleum products, delivered from Russia into Member States, with a temporary exception for crude oil delivered by pipeline. On the second day of the summit, EU leaders discussed energy, defence and food security.

Special meeting of the European Council, 30-31 May 2022

G7 and EU - US summits that will tackle issues like COVID-19, climate change, Russia and free trade Belarus.

On 11-13 June, at the G7 summit in Carbis Bay, Cornwall, the seven members - Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, plus the EU - will discuss the global recovery from COVID-19, free and fair trade and the fight against climate change. Other major security issues such as Belarus, and Israel/Palestine will also be raised. The UK organisers have invited leaders from Australia, India, South Korea and South Africa to attend as guest countries.

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the Commission and Charles Michel , President of the Council will meet the US president on 15 June in Brussels.

G7 and EU - US summits

Over the past years, there has been some progress in EU-Belarus relations.

The bilateral relationship will be strengthened through the EU-Belarus Partnership Priorities, which are currently being negotiated. This will set the strategic framework for cooperation in the coming years. Tangible steps taken by Belarus to respect universal freedoms, the rule of law, and human rights, including the freedoms of speech, expression and of media, and labour rights, will remain fundamental criteria for shaping the EU’s policy towards Belarus.

On 9 August 2020, presidential elections took place in the Republic of Belarus. Credible reports from domestic observers show that the process did not meet the international standards expected of a participating state of the OSCE (Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe).

EU - Belarus (2019-2020)

On 1 and 2 October, EU leaders meet in Brussels to discuss foreign affairs, in particular relations with Turkey and the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The leaders are also expected to address relations with China, the situation in Belarus and the poisoning of Alexei Navalny. The single market, industrial policy and digital transformation are also on the agenda

The summit, initially planned for 24 and 25 September, has been postponed as President Michel is in quarantine.

Special European Council, 1-2 October 2020

On 24 and 25 May, EU leaders met physically in Brussels to discuss the most pressing issues.

On 24 May leaders discussed the forced landing of a Ryanair flight in Minsk and subsequent arrest of anti-government activist and journalist Roman Protasevich. EU leaders invited Council to adopt further sanctions and necessary measures to ban overflight of EU airspace by Belarusian airlines and prevent access to EU airports of flights operated by such airlines. They also called on all EU-based carriers to avoid overflight of Belarus. Leaders also had the state of play of the coordination of the EU's response to COVID-19 on the agenda. They held a strategic debate on Russia and discussed the EU's relations with the UK, following the entry into force of the EU-UK trade and cooperation agreement on 1 May 2021.

Special European Council, 24-25 May 2021

On 16 December 2021, EU leaders met in Brussels to discuss COVID-19, crisis management and resilience, energy prices, security and defence and external relations.

The European Council discussed the current epidemiological situation in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and the emergence of a new variant. In this regard, EU leaders discussed continued coordinated efforts to respond to the developments, keeping in mind that any restrictions should not undermine the functioning of the single market or hamper travel between EU member states and to Europe.

The European Council also touched upon the importance of vaccination in the fight against the pandemic, including the importance of rolling out vaccines to all and to deploy booster doses.

Participants exchanged views on how best to tackle vaccine hesitancy and disinformation, and on the effectiveness of various measures and strategies in this respect.

Leaders also discussed the situation at the EU’s border with Belarus and Russia's military build-up at the border with Ukraine.

European Council, 16 December 2021

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Leader of the Belarusian democratic forces and Head of the United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus

Belarus postcards to political prisoners

EP Plenary session - Need to impose sanctions on the import of Russian and Belarusian food and agricultural products to the EU and to ensure stability of EU agricultural production

20240207-0900-PLENARY

Opening of the sitting

Composition of political groups

Negotiations ahead of Parliament’s first reading (Rule 71)

Empowering farmers and rural communities - a dialogue towards sustainable and fairly rewarded EU agriculture (debate)

Resumption of the sitting

This is Europe - Debate with the President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis (debate)

Voting time

Composition of committees and delegations

Approval of the minutes of the previous sitting

The fight against hate speech and disinformation: responsibility of social platforms within the Digital Services Act (topical debate)

Need to fight the increase of antisemitism and anti-Muslim hatred (debate)

Automated data exchange for police cooperation (“Prüm II”) (debate)

The EU priorities for the 68th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (debate)

Implementation report on the EU LGBTIQ Equality Strategy 2020-2025 (debate)

Implementation report on the EU LGBTIQ Equality Strategy 2020-2025 (debate) (continuation of debate)

New wave of mass arrests in Belarus of opposition activists and their family members

Increased number of executions in Iran, in particular the case of Mohammad Ghobadlou

Recent attacks on Christmas Eve in Plateau State in Nigeria

Commemoration of the 70th anniversary of Abbé Pierre's appeal on addressing homelessness in the context of persisting poverty and social exclusion (debate)

Explanations of vote

Agenda of the next sitting

Approval of the minutes of the sitting

Closure of the sitting

Plenary session

Delegation for relations with Belarus

Composition of the European Parliament (debate)

Towards a more disaster resilient EU - protecting people from extreme heatwaves, floods and forest fires (debate)

EU-Tunisia Agreement - aspects related to external migration policy (debate)

Single market emergency instrument (debate)

Ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe (debate)

Question Time (VPC/HR) - Situation in West and Central Africa in the light of the recent coups d’état

Iran: one year after the murder of Jina Mahsa Amini (debate)

Delegated acts (Rule 111(6)) (action taken): see Minutes

Corrigendum (Rule 241)(action taken)

New Agenda for Latin America and the Caribbean in the aftermath of the EU-CELAC Summit (debate)

50 years since the murder of Allende and the Coup in Chile: democracy and sovereignty (debate)

Ukrainian grain exports after Russia’s exit from the Black Sea Grain Initiative (debate)

2022 Report on Türkiye (debate)

Relations with Belarus (debate)

Sustainable aviation fuels (ReFuelEU Aviation Initiative) (debate)

Combating the normalisation of far-right and far-left discourses including antisemitism (debate)

Negotiations ahead of Parliament's first reading (Rule 71) (action taken)

The role of farmers as enablers of the green transition and a resilient agricultural sector (debate)

The role of farmers as enablers of the green transition and a resilient agricultural sector (continuation of debate)

Address by Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, President of Portugal

Externalising asylum applications and making funding to third countries conditional on the implementation of return agreements (topical debate)

Ukrainian cereals on the European market (debate)

Update of the anti-corruption legislative framework (debate)

Roadmap on a Social Europe: two years after Porto (debate)

Fighting cyberbullying of young people across the EU (debate)

Adequacy of the protection afforded by the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework (debate)

Media freedom and freedom of expression in Algeria, the case of journalist Ihsane El-Kadi

Belarus: the inhumane treatment and hospitalisation of prominent opposition leader Viktar Babaryka

Myanmar, notably the dissolution of democratic political parties

New Oil Drilling in Alaska - impact on the global climate crisis and the rights of indigenous peoples (debate)

Impact of the interest rate increase decided by the ECB on households and workers (debate)

Developing an EU cycling strategy (debate)

The further repressions against the people of Belarus, in particular the cases of Andrzej Poczobut and Ales Bialiatski (debate)

Availability of fertilisers in the EU

European initiative to promote civic engagement to protect and better support European volunteers

Approval of the minutes of the sitting and forwarding of texts adopted

Dates of forthcoming sittings

Adjournment of the session

The need for a European solution on asylum and migration including search and rescue

Voting time 

Approval of the minutes of the previous sitting 

A truly interconnected Energy Single Market to keep bills down and companies competitive

Eliminating violence against Women

Amending Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/2093 of 17 December 2020 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2021 to 2027 - Amending Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046 as regards the establishment of a diversified funding strategy as a general borrowing method - 'Macro-Financial Assistance+' instrument for providing support to Ukraine for 2023 (debate)

A post-2020 Global biodiversity framework and the UN Convention on Biological Diversity COP15

Legal protection for rainbow families exercising free movement, in particular the Baby Sara case (debate)

The future European Financial Architecture for Development (debate)

Composition of Parliament

Human rights situation in Egypt (debate)

The Human rights situation in Afghanistan especially the deterioration of women´s rights and attacks against educational institutions

The continuing repression of the democratic opposition and civil society in Belarus

Forced displacement of people as a result of escalating conflict in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

Protection of livestock farming and large carnivores in Europe (debate)

Press conference by Manfred WEBER, EPP Group Chairman, and Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Leader of Democratic Belarus, on current developments in the Russian war in Ukraine

Address by Maia Sandu, President of the Republic of Moldova

Statement by the President

Verification of credentials

Request for the defence of immunity: see Minutes

Signing of acts adopted in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure (Rule 79): see Minutes

Order of business

Votes on requests for urgent procedure (Rule 163)

EU Association Agreement with the Republic of Moldova (debate)

The killing of Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Aqla and the violent incidents at her funeral (debate)

2021 Report on North Macedonia (debate)

2021 Report on Albania (debate)

Prosecution of the opposition and the detention of trade union leaders in Belarus (debate)

Minimum level of taxation for multinational groups

One-minute speeches on matters of political importance

State of play of the EU-Moldova cooperation (debate)

The impact of the war against Ukraine on women (debate)

Building of a wall on the Polish – Belarus border in the Białowieża primeval forest (debate)

Approval of the minutes of the sitting and forwarding of texts adopted: see Minutes

Adjournment of the session : see Minutes

Announcement by the President 

Amendment of the agenda 

Negotiations ahead of Parliament's first reading (Rule 71)

Preparation of the European Council meeting of 16-17 December 2021 - The EU's response to the global resurgence of Covid-19 and the new emerging Covid variants (debate)

Award of the Sakharov Prize (formal sitting) 

Composition of committees and delegations 

Voting session

The European Commission Guidelines on inclusive language (debate) (topical debate)

State of play of the RRF (Recovery and Resilience Facility) (debate)

Plans to undermine further fundamental rights in Poland, in particular regarding the standards of the European Convention of Human Rights and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (debate)

The proposed Council decision on provisional emergency measures for the external border with Belarus based on article 78(3) TFEU (debate)

Announcement of voting results: see Minutes

The proposed Council decision on provisional emergency measures for the external border with Belarus based on article 78(3) TFEU (continuation of debate)

Deliberations of the Committee on Petitions in 2020 (debate)

EU response to the transport poverty (debate)

Stocktaking of the European Year of Rail (debate)

Agenda of the next sitting 

Closure of the sitting 

Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 21-22 October 2021

Situation in Belarus and at its border with the EU and the security and humanitarian consequences

Corrigendum (Rule 241) (action taken): see Minutes

Condemning police violence against Romani people in the EU (debate)

Legal migration policy and law (debate)

2022 budgetary procedure: joint text (debate)

Multilateral negotiations in view of the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference in Geneva, 30 November to 3 December 2021 (debate)

Situation in Bosnia-Herzegovina (debate)

The future of EU-US relations (debate)

The situation in Belarus after one year of protests and their violent repression (debate)

First voting session

The situation in Belarus after one year of protests and their violent repression (debate) (continuation of debate)

EU Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority: ensuring a coordinated EU approach for future health crisis and the role of the European Parliament in this (debate)

Implementation report on the EU Trust Funds and the Facility for Refugees in Turkey (debate)

Implementation report on the EU Trust Funds and the Facility for Refugees in Turkey (continuation of debate)

Corrigendum (Rule 241) (action taken)


State of EU cyber defence capabilities (debate)

Humanitarian situation in Tigray (debate)

The Arctic: opportunities, concerns and security challenges (debate)

Second voting session

Assessing the Union’s measures for the EU tourism sector as the end of the Summer season nears (debate)

Disinformation and the role of social platforms (debate)

Delegation to the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly with MEP Meeting of the Working Group on Belarus

Safety of the nuclear power plant in Ostrovets (Belarus) (debate)

Safety of the nuclear power plant in Ostrovets (Belarus)  (continuation of debate)

Rwanda, the case of Paul Rusesabagina

Human rights situation in Kazakhstan

Political situation in Uganda

Homologation and distribution of transparent masks (debate)

Humanitarian situation in Ethiopia (debate)

Council position at first reading: see Minutes

Proposal for a Union act: see Minutes

Approval of the minutes of the part-session and forwarding of texts adopted: see Minutes: see Minutes

Dates of forthcoming sittings 

Adjournment of the session 

Pharmaceutical strategy for Europe (debate)

Pharmaceutical strategy for Europe (continuation of debate)

Elimination of customs duties on certain products (debate)

The deteriorating situation of human rights in Algeria, in particular the case of journalist Khaled Drareni

Situation in Ethiopia

The continuous violations of human rights in Belarus, in particular the murder of Raman Bandarenka

Announcement by the President : see Minutes

Approval of the minutes of the part-session and forwarding of texts adopte: see Minutes

Plenary Session

Common agricultural policy - support for strategic plans to be drawn up by Member States and financed by the EAGF and by the EAFRD - Common agricultural policy: financing, management and monitoring - Common agricultural policy – amendment of the CMO and other Regulations (debate)

Amendment of the agenda

Commission Work Programme 2021 (debate)

Recommendation to the Council, the Commission and the VPC/HR on relations with Belarus (debate)

Recommendation to the VPC/HR and to the Council in preparation of the 2020 Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Treaty (NPT) review process, nuclear arms control and nuclear disarmament options (debate)

Police brutality within the EU (debate)

Third voting session

Agenda of the next sitting : see Minutes

Joint press statement by David SASSOLI, EP President and Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, leader of Belarus opposition

International Democracy Day -A New Democracy in the making? - Belarus Reborn

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Vilnius (Lithuania) - Meeting with Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Leader of the Belarusian democratic opposition

EP Plenary session - Debates on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law (Rule 144)

FEMM Committee - Situation of Women in Belarus

EP Plenary session - Formal sitting- Address by Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, exiled Belarusian opposition leader

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, exiled Belarusian opposition leader

Othmar KARAS meets with Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, exiled Belarusian opposition leader

EP Plenary session.- Relations with Belarus

AFET - Votes on Turkiye, Belarus and Switzerland

EP Plenary session - The further repressions against the people of Belarus, in particular the cases of Andrzej Poczobut and Ales Bialiatski

Support to Belarusian political prisoners - #EPStandsBYyou #DemocraticBelarus

EP Plenary session - Lukashenko regime's active role in the war against Ukraine

1,924 results

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Leader of the Belarusian democratic forces and Head of the United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Leader of the Belarusian democratic forces and Head of the United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Leader of the Belarusian democratic forces and Head of the United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Leader of the Belarusian democratic forces and Head of the United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Leader of the Belarusian democratic forces and Head of the United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Leader of the Belarusian democratic forces and Head of the United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Leader of the Belarusian democratic forces and Head of the United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Leader of the Belarusian democratic forces and Head of the United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus

Belarus postcards to political prisoners

Belarus postcards to political prisoners

Belarus postcards to political prisoners

Belarus postcards to political prisoners

Belarus postcards to political prisoners

Belarus postcards to political prisoners

Belarus postcards to political prisoners

Belarus postcards to political prisoners

EP Plenary session - Need to impose sanctions on the import of Russian and Belarusian food and agricultural products to the EU and to ensure stability of EU agricultural production

EP Plenary session - Need to impose sanctions on the import of Russian and Belarusian food and agricultural products to the EU and to ensure stability of EU agricultural production