2974th EXTERNAL RELATIONS Council meeting
Brussels, 17 November 2009
The Council adopted the following conclusions:
" 1. The Council notes that since October 2008, as a result of the release of internationally recognised political prisoners, new possibilities have opened up for dialogue and deepened cooperation between the EU and Belarus. The Council welcomes the increased high-level EU–Belarus political dialogue, the establishment of a Human Rights Dialogue, the intensified technical cooperation and the participation of Belarus in the Eastern Partnership, as ways of building mutual understanding and creating opportunities to address issues of concern.
"I am disappointed by the recent arrests of 40 members of the Union of Poles and other civil society representatives in Belarus, including that of the democratically elected chairperson of the Union of Poles, Ms Angelika Borys. I am also deeply concerned over the recent high fine imposed on Ms Borys. I condemn police action against the Union of Poles and what appear to be attempts by the authorities to impose a new leadership on the Polish community.
European Union ministers have authorised the European Commission to open negotiations on renewing the agreement on trade in textile products between the EU and Belarus.
Luxembourg, 6 April 2009 
Brussels, December 17, 2008 Javier SOLANA, EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), welcomed today the decision of the Belarusian Ministry of Justice to register the For Freedom movement headed by former Belarusian presidential candidate Aliaksandr Milinkevich.
