On June 17 in Brussels, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with Seamus Boland, President of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), the Tsikhanouskaya Office reported.
The parties discussed the situation in Belarus, support for civil society, the implementation of the Memorandum of Cooperation signed last year between the EESC and the Belarusian democratic forces, as well as new mechanisms for institutional cooperation.
Tsikhanouskaya proposed establishing an advisory or working group on Belarus within the EESC. Such a group could become a permanent platform for cooperation with Belarusian civil society.
The situation of independent trade unions in Belarus and joint campaigns in support of Belarusian trade unions and political prisoners were also discussed separately.
The leader of the Belarusian democratic forces proposed expanding internship programmes for Belarusian students and young professionals, supporting independent media, organising cultural and educational events, conducting joint campaigns against disinformation, and more actively integrating Belarus-related issues into European discussions on security, democracy and the future of Europe.
“I am very grateful to the EESC for viewing Belarus here not as a problem, but as a future partner. While the regime is trying to isolate Belarusians from Europe, we must build new bridges. It is people, civil society, independent trade unions, journalists and cultural figures who will form the foundation of a new democratic Belarus,” Tsikhanouskaya said.
The European Economic and Social Committee is an advisory body of the European Union representing employers, trade unions and civil society organisations from EU member states.
