EU Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy, Stefan Fule, reported on March 21 that the European Commission intends to increase support of the opposition and civil society in Belarus in 2011-2013. According to the European Commissioner, funds of the European Commission will be, first of all, focused on emergency assistance to victims of political persecution.
Stefan Fule said that March 21, Brussels would host an informal meeting of donors to the Belarusian opposition, similar to the one that took place in early February in Warsaw, ITAR-TASS.
European Commissioner recalled that the European Commission announced in February about the allocation of €17.3 million as support of the civil society in Belarus. According to Stefan Fule, the money will be used to finance non-governmental organizations in Belarus, as well as to support community leaders and students. €1 million is planned to be allocated every year on higher education program at the University of Vilnius for the students, expelled from the Belarusian universities.
As Telegraf previously reported, following the international donors’ conference «Solidarity with Belarus,» held in early February in Warsaw, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said that Belarus will receive € 87 million from all the participating countries. Approximately €1.7 million is planned to be allocated to the oppoition victims and their families, affected by the media.
