Council decides to lift most EU sanctions against Belarus

The Council of the European Union decided on 15 February 2016 not to extend the restrictive measures for 170 individuals and three companies in Belarus. These sanctions had already been temporarily suspended in October 2015.

The lifting of most sanctions was decided in recognition of steps taken by the country over the years, despite remaining concerns over human rights.

• Primary Source

Politico, 15.02.16: EU lifts most sanctions against Belarus http://www.politico.eu/article/eu-lifts-most-sanctions-against-belarus-human-rights/

The Guardian, 15.02.16: EU lifts most sanctions against Belarus despite human rights concerns http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/feb/15/eu-lifts-most-sanctions-against-belarus-despite-human-rights-concerns

RT, 15.02.16: EU lifts 12-year Belarus sanctions after thanking Minsk for ‘constructive role in the region’ https://www.rt.com/news/332546-belarus-eu-sanctions-lukashenko/

Euronews, 15.02.16: EU lift majority of sanctions against Belarus http://www.euronews.com/2016/02/15/eu-lift-majority-of-sanctions-against-belarus/

TASS, 15.02.16: Lifting Belarus sanctions element of West’s struggle with Russia over influence on Minsk http://tass.ru/en/opinions/856870

Sputnik International, 15.02.16: Minsk Welcomes EU Decision to Partially Lift Sanctions From Belarus http://sptnkne.ws/aDcP

Deutsche Welle, 15.02.16: European Union agrees to end nearly all sanctions on Belarus http://dw.com/p/1Hvp1

The Baltic Course, 16.02.16: EU lifts sanctions on Belarus http://www.baltic-course.com/eng/baltic_states/?doc=116776

Radio Poland, 15.02.16: Poland in favour of lifting EU sanctions on Belarus http://www.thenews.pl/1/10/Artykul/240762,Poland-in-favour-of-lifting-EU-sanctions-on-Belarus

EUObserver, 12.02.16: EU to end five-year freeze in Belarus relations https://euobserver.com/foreign/132254

Euractiv, 16.02.16: EU lifts almost all sanctions against Belarus http://www.euractiv.com/section/europe-s-east/news/eu-lifts-almost-all-sanctions-against-belarus/

Euro|Topics: Debates, February 2016: EU lifts sanctions against Belarus http://www.eurotopics.net/en/154199/eu-lifts-sanctions-against-belarus

ESO: Background information: Stability, not values: the EU lifts sanctions against Belarus http://www.europeansources.info/record/stability-not-values-the-eu-lifts-sanctions-against-belarus/

Euractiv, 25.02.16: EU ends Belarus sanctions http://www.euractiv.com/section/europe-s-east/news/eu-ends-belarus-sanctions/

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 25.02.16: Belarus sanctions: EU delists 170 people, 3 companies; prolongs arms embargo http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2016/02/25-belarus-sanctions/

---