The European Parliament rejected today a resolution objecting to the delegated decision of the Commission to make Belarus a beneficiary country of European Investment Bank (EIB) loans.

The measure follows a Council decision on 15 February 2016 to ease restrictive measures against Belarus.

GUE/NGL MEP Jiří Maštálka welcomed the results of the vote:

“I welcome today´s decision of the European Parliament against an objection to the Commission´s delegated decision on Belarus. We are enabling Belarus to use loans from the EIB for public projects. This financial support can be used to modernise the country, improve environmental standards and promote sustainable development. An objection from the Parliament would have thwarted long-term cooperation between the EU and Belarus. We are opening a new door of dialogue and mutual cooperation.”