December 8, Pozirk. The European Union will allocate an additional €30 million to help the people of Belarus next year, taking the total of its support to over €200 million since 2020, EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos has announced today at a high-level event in Brussels.
“The support will empower Belarusian human rights defenders, assist victims of repression and enable journalists and civil society to continue pushing for democratic change,” the official said. “We are also at the forefront of supporting political prisoners after their release and helping them rebuild their lives.”
The funding aims to help pro-democracy activists build a country that respects human dignity and where people would not have to live in fear of reprisals and would have a voice in decisions that shape their lives, she noted.
“We will continue to apply pressure against the [Alaksandar Łukašenka] regime while standing firmly with people of Belarus,” Kos added. The EU will also keep supporting the International Accountability Platform for Belarus to punish crimes committed by the regime, she added.
The official pledged support for Belarusians’ democratic aspirations, vowing both the backing of the European Union and her personal commitment.
