MEP: "Economic interests prevail over democratic ones"

"It may happen so that unwanted people will arrive to Europe, which means, those who strengthens Lukashenka’s regime. But this is a separate issue. I support the idea that such people should not travel to the EU ", - says MEP Marek Migalski to Euroradio. 

Migalski is one of those who stand for the abolition of visas to the EU for citizens of Belarus. The solution to the "visa issue" is not only the abolition of the visa regime, but also to simplification of procedures, or cancellation of visa fees. However, these suggestions are not actual by now, says the MP.

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"The way we do it - a complete abolition of visas, or simplification of visa obtaining procedures, or introduction of free or long-term visas - it's all secondary issues. It is important that we agree with that. And now not all of us want to open our markets, and our houses, for our Belarusian friends. "
 
Professor of the University of Lodz, Przemyśl Żurawski, an expert on Eastern European politics, believes that the reason for the reluctance to unilaterally abolish visas for Belarusians lies in the anti-immigrant moods. Like, the French, the Germans and the British are tired of the influx of people from the East.
 
"The anti-immigrant moods are so strong among the voters of the old EU countries, that the politicians will not agree to a substantial liberalization of visa issues under such pressure. Of course, this is a loss for both Poland and Belarus. "
 
Meanwhile, the EU has been negotiating on the abolition of visas with Russia for more than a year by now. Marek Migalski believes that this is connected with economic interests. Belarus cannot compete with Russia here.
 
"The fact that some EU countries have a special relationship with Russia and therefore they are more committed to working with it than with Belarus - it is an open secret, we know it. The sad truth is that sometimes the business, economic interests prevail over the interests of democracy and freedom. "
 
European Commissioner for Neighbourhood  Policy Štefan Füle generally believes that the abolition of visas depends on ... Lukashenka. Like, the EU is ready for this. But Belarus slows down the issue.
 
"We want to pay less for Belarusian visas and that they have the best conditions for visiting the EU, but does Lukashenka want it? Our proposals have lied on the table of the Belarusian authorities for nine months, and we have not received any response. "
 
So, at present transferring the Ice Hockey World Cup-2014 from Belarus remains the main news in European Parliament’s resolution. However, for the majority of Belarusians this is not as attractive as an opportunity to travel to Europe without visas.