How to deal with Belarus? New approaches in EU-Belarus relations

Abstract

"The Belarusian regime is under pressure economically and socially. The Minsk metro bombing on April 2011, which caused 14 deaths, showed the new instability of the country. High inflation and small foreign currency reserves have led to a deeper dependency on loans from Russia. Since the rigged elections and the violent crackdowns on demonstration in December 2010, EU-Belarus relations are at a low point. To develop a new EU strategy toward Belarus, the EU should take a closer look at the structural developments in the country and approach two groups for a new cooperation: the young pro-European society and the disappointed elite." [author's abstract]