Letter From Minsk

Strategic Europe launches a new phase of its Capitals Series exploring how EU foreign policy is viewed by six countries in Europe’s Eastern neighborhood. It asked contributors from each capital to give a candid assessment of the EU’s policies toward their country, with a ranking on a scale from 'miserable' to 'excellent'. In this third feature, the spotlight is on Belarus.

Real change in EU - Belarus relations can come about only if the EU differentiates between the aspirations of the authorities and the wishes of these segments of society. If the EU wants its policies to be more effective, it really has to involve Belarusian civic actors in its policy planning and implementation. There is no other way.

• Primary Source

EU: EEAS: EU relations with Belarus http://eeas.europa.eu/belarus/index_en.htm

Carnegie Europe: Strategic Europe: Capitals Series http://carnegieeurope.eu/strategiceurope/?fa=showIssue&id=1465&title=Capitals%20Series

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