Belarus EU visa regime facilitation agreement may be signed by 2016

Belarus demonstrated its readiness to start negotiations on visa issues with the European Union, Makei noted. However, the facts and arguments are not in favour of the European Union’s position, he said. “The main thing is the fact that both Belarus and the EU are ready to conduct negotiations on the visa regime facilitation and readmission,” the Minister of Foreign Affairs stressed.

 He drew attention to the fact that the visa regime simplification with a number of states was one of Belarus’ foreign policy priorities. The visa-free regime with Turkey was introduced on April 1, and a similar agreement was signed with Brazil in November 2013. Negotiations on the visa regime facilitation with Israel are coming to an end too. Belarus is also conducting negotiations about it with some other countries, the Minister noted.

EU representatives planned to visit Minsk to conduct another round of visa negotiations in May but it was cancelled due to technical issues, Makei said.

Photo: uvaga.by