Tensions at Belarusian border: EU prepares for sanctions against airlines actively smuggling migrants | Abroad

The new sanctions framework is related to everything related to the crisis at Europe’s external borders. From Belarus, migrants have been trying for months to reach Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and the rest of the European Union.

On the border with Poland, the situation has completely escalated in recent days. The European Union accuses Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko of flying migrants from Africa and the Middle East and then taking them across the border. With this “mixed attack” he wants to destabilize the union.

Several European countries are calling for additional sanctions against Belarus. A framework for this has now been put in place, according to diplomatic circles. One goal would be to target airlines and other companies in the sector that are involved in transporting migrants. Soon one arrives in Belarusian Bellavia.

In concrete terms, European sanctions could have the effect that European companies that leased planes to Belavia would have to take back those planes. It is said that more than half of the Belavia fleet consists of these charter aircraft.

As soon as the foreign ministers finish their meeting, it cannot be excluded that the heads of state and government will also consider Belarus. Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has already asked European Council President Charles Michel (MR) to hold a digital summit. Moraviki says economic sanctions against Belarus are possible.