Flight suspension and sanctions follow the forced grounding of a Ryanair plane in Belarus. Belarusian aircraft are to be stopped from operating to the EU.
The measures from EU countries come after a couple of hours of EU summit in Brussels on Monday evening.
At that time, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had already called the events in Minsk on Sunday a "hijacking" on her way in.
”"This is scandalous behavior and (Belarusian President Aleksandr) Lukashenko and his regime must understand that this has serious consequences," says von der Leyen.
Council President Charles Michel speaks of an ”international scandal”.
”"The lives of European civilians were put at risk. It is not acceptable and that is why we have put the question of sanctions on the table," says Michel.
The result was a joint statement with clear orders to the EU Council of Ministers to implement concrete measures.
EU leaders demand the immediate release of arrested Belarusian journalist Roman Protasevich and his girlfriend Sofia Sapega.
It urges the international aviation organization ICAO to "urgently investigate this unique and unacceptable incident.".
The Council of Ministers is asked to identify which additional Belarusians should be subject to personal sanctions in the form of an entry ban and the freezing of any assets in the EU. In addition, ”targeted economic sanctions” are to be identified.
Everyone is asked EU airlines to avoid flights through Belarusian airspace – at the same time as Belarusian airlines should not be allowed into the EU, neither to fly nor to land.
Prime Minister Stefan Löfven (S) was already looking forward to the measures in advance.
”"Here it is important to make a strong statement directly and take strong measures against the Belarusian regime," said the Prime Minister on his way into the summit.
Similar decisions to halt flights had previously been taken by non-EU countries such as the United Kingdom and Ukraine.
The flight permit for the state airline Belavia is being suspended "with immediate effect," says British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab in parliament in London, for example.
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki wants the flight ban to remain in effect as long as Belarus holds Protasevich.
”"I will propose that all flights from Belarus to the EU and vice versa be stopped until this young man is released," Morawiecki said at a press conference ahead of the EU summit, according to the Reuters news agency.
Protasevich and Sapega were taken away when the Ryanair plane en route between Greece and Lithuania was forced to land in the Belarusian capital Minsk on Sunday.
Belarusian authorities claimed that there was a safety risk on board and sent fighter jets to ensure the plane was diverted.
The incident has already prompted a large number of EU countries to recommend their airlines avoid Belarusian airspace.
Many have also summoned Belarusian diplomats to protest.
”"We have summoned the Belarusian ambassador in connection with Sunday's events. The meeting will take place on Tuesday," says Foreign Minister Ann Linde in a written comment to TT.
The first sharp diplomatic consequences are simultaneously noted around Latvia – although without being directly linked to the flight ban.
Belarus has decided to expel Latvia's ambassador after a Belarusian opposition flag was used during the ongoing World Ice Hockey Championship tournament in Riga, reports the AFP news agency.
This, in turn, has prompted the Latvians to respond with the same measure in the other direction.
Latvia is now receiving explicit support from the EU summit, where leaders call the expulsion "unjustified.".
After the discussion about Belarus, EU leaders in Brussels continued to discuss the relationship with Russia, which is also anything but good.
The Czech Republic has openly accused Russian agents of blowing up a Czech ammunition depot in 2014, leading to the mutual expulsion of a large number of personnel at the countries' respective embassies.
In a joint statement, EU leaders are now expected to condemn "illegal and provocative Russian activities towards the EU and its member states.".
”"Russia is working in many ways to undermine the EU, our democracy, our way of life and our values," warned Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins on the way to the summit.
Other topics during Monday's summit dinner were the relationship with the United Kingdom, the situation in the Middle East, migration and the relationship with the United States.
Source: TT
