On Monday morning, the EU countries' foreign ministers approved that the ongoing migrant crisis could also lead to sanctions in the form of entry bans and frozen possible assets in the EU.
"Today's decision reflects the EU's determination to stand up to migrants being made tools for political purposes.
We fight back against this inhuman and illegal act.
At the same time, we continue to emphasize the unacceptable ongoing reprisals from the regime against its own people, "said EU Foreign Minister Josep Borrell in a statement.
More to be listed
The decision means that work can now begin to produce even more names for the EU's sanction lists for Belarus, for example on airlines, tourist companies or people who have helped bring migrants to the border with EU countries.
- We will see how to act more internationally.
The Commission will look at different ways to make it more difficult for all airlines to take advantage of this situation, says Sweden's Foreign Minister Ann Linde in Brussels.
She sees the effect that the sanctions talks have already had on traffic to Belarus as proof that the sanctions really work.
- I can only state that the threat of sanctions has already meant that, for example, the Belarusian airline Belavia and several other airlines no longer fly citizens from the countries from which they (migrants) primarily came, says Linde.
Flight ban?
However, her Lithuanian colleague Gabrielius Landsbergis wants to go even further towards air traffic.
"We must ensure that Minsk Airport becomes a no-fly zone and at least temporarily ensure that no planes that can potentially take in migrants who want to cross the border can land illegally in Minsk or any other airport in Belarus," Landsbergis said on his way to the meeting. in Brussels.