On March 4, the “8+100” forum of political parties was held at the European Parliament in Brussels. The event was organized by the Platform of Political Parties and the European Parliament with the support of the Office of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and the European Dialogue Center.
Opening remarks were delivered by Vice-President of the European People’s Party Group Andrzej Halicki, Members of the European Parliament Bogdan Zdrojewski and Malgorzata Gosiewska, who heads the European Parliament delegation for relations with Belarus. Video addresses to participants were delivered by Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Chair of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly Sergey Lagodinsky, former political prisoner and co-chair of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Paval Sieviaryniec, and Chair of the Belarusian Green Party Dzmitry Kuchuk.
During the first panel on cooperation between the EU and Belarusian democratic forces, speakers included representatives of the European External Action Service, the European Commission, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, as well as Belarusian politicians Yury Hubarevich (For Freedom Movement), Mikalai Kazlou (United Civic Party) and Viktar Babaryka (Vmeste).
Participants discussed two key strategic directions: coordination of EU policy toward Belarus and the country’s role in the future architecture of Euro-Atlantic security. Particular attention was paid to the situation inside Belarus, the release of political prisoners and countering the Kremlin’s hybrid aggression.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya addressed the forum via video.
“I call on our European colleagues to include Belarusian parties in their work and share experience. I am glad that Belarusian parties already cooperate with international party organizations. We must strengthen our society and the democratic alternative. We continue to strengthen the infrastructure and subjectivity of our democratic forces. Our movement is open to everyone who shares the same goals and values. And I see political parties as a key element of our movement,” she said.
European participants emphasized that Belarus must not be handed over to Vladimir Putin as a “consolation prize.” They noted that the country is of fundamental importance for Europe’s security system. In their view, easing European sanctions can only be discussed after fundamental democratic changes in the country.
Lagodinsky and other European participants also noted that Belarus currently occupies an unprecedentedly high place on the EU agenda — largely due to the efforts of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and coordinated democratic forces.
According to the Office of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, special attention was given to strengthening democratic forces, including improving the effectiveness of the Coordination Council. Yury Hubarevich and Mikalai Kazlou, responding to questions, said their parties would participate in the upcoming elections to the Coordination Council and called on Belarusians to actively take part in the vote — for those for whom it is safe to do so.
