EU expands sanctions on Belarus amid migrant crisis
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced, on Wednesday, that the European Union will expand sanctions imposed on Belarus at the beginning of next week, after accusing it of forcing thousands of migrants to head to its borders.
Von der Leyen said, after a meeting with US President Joe Biden, that the new sanctions won’t only include individuals, but also entities.
She added that the United States has prepared its own list of economic blacklists, which will be revealed at the beginning of next December.
She continued, “It is important that we talk to the countries from which the migrants come.
We’re working to impose sanctions on countries that are part of Belarus’ dirty activities”.
According to von der Leyen, her meeting with Biden dealt with “pressing international issues”.
The European Union accuses Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko of coordinating the arrival of this wave of migrants and refugees to the eastern side of the bloc, in response to European sanctions imposed on his country after the “brutal repression” exercised by his regime against the opposition.
EU countries bordering Belarus – Lithuania, Latvia and Poland – have reported a significant increase in irregular migrant crossings since last August.
According to the latest figures from the European Union, 7,935 people have attempted to enter the bloc through its border with Belarus so far this year, a sharp increase from just 150 last year.
