Poland in the Council of Europe

On the initiative of the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Poland, Ambassador Jerzy Baurski, during the meeting of the Committee of Ministers’ Deputies of the Council of Europe, on February 10, the EU countries - members of the Council of Europe, delivered an EU statement on the Day of Solidarity with Belarus held on February 7.

In the statement, the representatives of the EU countries, expressed conviction that the Council of Europe has an important role in supporting Belarus in its transformation towards democracy, protection of human rights and the rule of law.

In view of the numerous and serious violations of human rights, following the rigged presidential elections in August 2020, the EU states called on the Belarusian authorities to bring the perpetrators of the violations to justice, release the unlawfully detained, and engage in a democratic and inclusive dialogue with the civil society. At the same time, the platform provided by international organisations, such as the OSCE was indicated, in order to facilitate the dialogue between the authorities and the civil society. The EU recalled the importance of the perspective of many Central and Eastern European countries, now EU members, where the idea of ​​solidarity with the repressed society is still alive. In this context, the EU declared readiness to continue supporting  a democratic Belarus, in a sustainable manner, including the use of economic and financial mechanisms, after the democratic transition.

Belarus is not a member state of the Council of Europe, but is a party to some of the Council of Europe's Conventions and Partial Agreements.