The Renew Europe Group in the European Parliament has this week called for fresh sanctions and accompanying measures targeting the Lukashenko regime in Belarus and Mr. Lukashenko himself, following his continued trafficking and exploitation of migrants as part of a hybrid war against the European Union.

Renew Europe has also called on the Polish authorities to ensure EU asylum laws and the highest human rights standards are applied in the situation on the Polish-Belarusian border. The rights of the victims of trafficking must be of utmost priority.

Petras Auštrevičius MEP (Liberal Movement, LT), European Parliament standing rapporteur on Belarus, said:

“I call on the European Union to proceed with the next stage of sanctions: Lukashenko’s regime should pay an immediate price for its hybrid attacks on neighbouring EU Member States. The horrific trafficking of migrants must end. Poland has an obligation to treat those who have been exploited with dignity and apply all relevant EU laws and standards."

Sophie in 't Veld MEP (D66, NL), Renew Europe Coordinator on the European Parliament Civil Liberties Committee said:

"It is truly atrocious how the Belorussian regime is using people as a weapon. The EU should put a price on this behavior, but also recognise that it has proven to be vulnerable to blackmail from ruthless strongmen on EU borders before. The EU must implement a common asylum and migration pact that makes us able to deal with pressures like these. Member States have complicated advances on such policies for years now. I call on the Polish government to support such initiatives in the future and to call on Frontex for assistance in this current crisis.”

Belarus border: #Lukashenka must pay a price for state sponsored human trafficking.

We call on the Polish authorities to ensure EU asylum laws & the highest #HumanRights standards are applied to the situation on the Polish-Belarusian border.

Read more: https://t.co/JIf3rm4aSB pic.twitter.com/d7FP9pCbTq

— Renew Europe (@RenewEurope) November 8, 2021