The European Parliament will host a conference in Brussels, where participants will explore the prospects and challenges of democratic reform in Belarus.
The high-level conference is a collaboration between the European Parliament and the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), with the support of the European Commission and the European External Action Service (EEAS). It is the fifth in a series of events held over the past two years, focusing on the reform package developed by Belarusian democratic actors and the international community’s efforts to support the Belarusian people.
The event will be opened by European Parliament Vice-President Ewa Kopacz, European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos, leader of the Belarusian democratic forces Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, and Secretary-General of International IDEA Kevin Casas-Zamora. EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas will also participate in the event.
The conference will include five panels:
- Panel Debate I: Promoting Democratic Transformation and Human Rights in Belarus;
- Panel Debate II: Restoring Public Trust in Government Institutions through Transitional Justice;
- Panel Debate III: Enhancing Democratic Governance through Prosecutorial Reforms;
- Panel Debate IV: Upholding Integrity: The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Committee in Public Service;
- Panel Debate V: Oversight in Action: The Role of the Control Chamber in Democratic Governance.
High-level European politicians, Belarusian democratic leaders, and international legal and policy experts will speak during the conference.
The aim of the conference is to support the conceptual development of reforms in Belarus by offering a platform for dialogue between the Belarusian democratic movement, MEPs, the European Commission, the EEAS, legal experts, and representatives of international organisations and European member states.
Important: Only the opening session, 9.00-9.45 CET, and the intervention by Kaja Kallas, at 14.15-14.30 CET, will be open to the media. The rest of the conference will be held in camera. You can also watch the opening and Ms. Kallas’ intervention live here.
Read more about the conference on the European Parliament’s website.
