EU REACTION TO POTENTIAL POSITIVE STEPS FOR BELARUS

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 001623

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/14/2014
TAGS: PREL PGOV EAID BO EUN USEU BRUSSELS
SUBJECT: EU REACTION TO POTENTIAL POSITIVE STEPS FOR BELARUS

REF: A) STATE 82809 B) MINSK 476

Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Kyle Scott. Reason: 1.4 (B
)(D)


1. (C) Mission passed ref a points April 15 to Carl Hartzell,
East Europe and Caucasus specialist of the Council's Policy
Unit. Hartzell reviewed them briefly, and said they seemed
reasonable, and in fact went further than the EU was thinking
at this time. The EU was also looking at steps to increase
dialogue in response to positive steps by Belarus, but would
likely limit them to expert meetings and perhaps a Political
Director troika at most.


2. (C) Hartzell said the Council had held a review of its
policy toward Belarus following the US-EU joint demarche to
confirm that there was no need to change their policy. This
was a tactical decision, since it was possible that
enlargement could lead to pressures by countries bordering on
Belarus to adjust the policy. The review, however, had
reconfirmed the EU's current approach, adopted originally in

1997. He said the Council was looking at ways that EU funds
could be used to help civil society, but admitted that EU
mechanisms (such as TASIS funding) were not very nimble for
this purpose, as they required approval by the government.

Schnabel