After a Ryanair flight was forced to land in Minsk and a Belarusian journalist, Raman Pratasevich and his girlfriend Sofia Sapega, was arrested, MEPs and Josep BORRELL, Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, debated the EU’s response during the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Statement by Josep BORRELL, on the EU Council request to take targeted economic sanctions, Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS (Renew, LT), Anna FOTYGA (ECR, PL), Andrius KUBILIUS (EPP, LT), Pedro MARQUES (S&D, PT) and Markéta GREGOROVÁ (Greens/EFA, CZ).

statement

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

EU - Russia (T)

EU - Belarus (T)

FOTYGA, Anna (ECR, PL)

AUŠTREVIČIUS, Petras (Renew, LT)

BORRELL FONTELLES, Josep (PSE, ES, EC)

KUBILIUS, Andrius (EPP, LT)

GREGOROVÁ, Markéta (Greens/EFA, CZ)

MARQUES, Pedro (S&D, PT)

Repression in Belarus and abductions from an EU civilian plane: extracts from the debate

Title: Repression in Belarus and abductions from an EU civilian plane: extracts from the debate

Arrival and cutaways of Josep BORREL FONTELLES in the hemicycle (2 shots)

SOUNDBITE (English), Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the EC in charge of a stronger Europe in the World, The European Council called for additional sanctions and for the first time, we decided to include targeted economic sanctions. Until now our sanctions are usually taken on a personal basis, affecting individuals and entities, but not the whole economy of a country. This time, the Council requested to take targeted economic sanctions.

SOUNDBITE (English), Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the EC in charge of a stronger Europe in the World, The Council also requested that all European Union based air carriers. They have to avoid overflights of Belarus. It called also for adopting the necessary measures to ban overflights of the European Union's airspace by Belarusian airlines and prevent access to European Union airports of flights operated by such airlines.

SOUNDBITE (English), Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the EC in charge of a stronger Europe in the World, Listing of individuals and companies, including those involved in the Ryanair accident or incident, are well on track for adoption, and it will be adopted by routine procedure in the following days. And as mandated by the Council and together with the Commission we have started targeted economic sanctions, that the Council requested, that will be adopted on the next Foreign Affairs Council. I hope that the technical work will be finished and it will be affecting critical sectors of the Belarusian economy. But the final decision belongs to the Member states.

SOUNDBITE (English), Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the EC in charge of a stronger Europe in the World, We have published a plan for a three billion Euros economic investment package in support of Democratic Belarus, sending a message of hope and support to the people of Belarus, showing the prospects for a more prosperous country once they come back to a democratic system.

SOUNDBITE (English), Petras AU&#352;TREVI&#268;IUS (Renew, LT), We are unlikely to stop Lukashenko and Putin from violating sovereignty of Belarus in attempts to form so-called "union state". But we must justify the expectations of the Belarusian people towards the European Union and contain the Lukashenko regime by imposing broad sectorial sanctions. In addition, the European Union should initiate and host a high level conference on the future of democratic Belarus, not only pledging but providing real time support to democratic civil society of Belarus.

SOUNDBITE (English), Anna FOTYGA (ECR, PL), This airplane belonging to Ryanair was from a formal point of view a Polish Aeroplane and the other irregular incident, provocation also was against one of the opposition leaders in Russia, but also in Polish airplane , that means that we have to stay extremely vigilant and extending pressure on both Lukashenko and Putin to cooperate with international community.

SOUNDBITE (English), Andrius KUBILIUS (EPP, LT), Why Lukashenko decided that he can go for state terrorism action with hijack of Ryanair flight ? Because he decides that he will stay unpunished in the same way like he is still not punished for his crimes against Belarus people. On sanctions, the news are that next the EU will approve sanctions only one seven persons and one entity. It is really not enough. There is the need of justice now, not when the regime will collapse. International conference on Belarussian crisis should be initiated immediately with one of the goals to establish international tribunal for Lukashenko crimes.

SOUNDBITE (English), Pedro MARQUES (S&amp;D, PT), Belarusian authorities, upon the direct order of Alexander Lukashenko definitely went too far this time. Not only the Belarusian regime has systematically violated the freedom of press, the democratic values and human rights, but now it has also violated European security, demonstrating that the Belarusian regime has become a threat to international peace and security. Hijacking an airplane, a European airplane is an act of terrorism and terrorism is a serious crime. The European Union must not tolerate such behaviour.

SOUNDBITE (English), Mark&#233;ta GREGOROV&#193; (Greens/EFA, CZ), Do you think that Lukashenko will survive without European money? Belarus is already dependent on Russia. Let's not belief Lukashenko lies about our strong action will push him closer to Putin. He is cradled in his arms as close as he could get and there is no one else in the country so strongly attached to Putin. So colleagues, Belarusian citizens society functions even under Lukashenko and they will do better without him.

Cutaways of the MEPs in the hemicycle, general view of the hemicycle (7 shots)