A few weeks after the threats, the sanctions fall.
Friday evening, the European Union announced that it intended to "
keep its commitments
", toughening the tone against Belarus.
"
From midnight, it will be prohibited for any aircraft operated by a Belarusian company to land, take off or fly over the whole of European territory
", wrote on Twitter the President of the European Council, Charles Michel.
To read also: Plane hijacked in Belarus: "Europe must rise to the challenge addressed to it"
Formally adopted on Friday by the European authorities, this decision comes "
in response to the forced landing of a flight operated by Ryanair,
" said the representative, who calls for the release of "
all political prisoners in Belarus
". At the end of May, a flight from Athens to Vilnius had been rerouted in Minsk, and one of the passengers, political opponent Roman Protassevich, was arrested on landing. This action had aroused the anger of the Member States, who denounced an act "
unacceptable
". The Quai d'Orsay had called for a "
firm and united response from the Europeans
", as had many chancelleries.
In the process, the European Council had asked "
all carriers established in the EU to avoid overflight of Belarus
". A measure also pushed by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). He also wanted "
the necessary measures to prohibit the overflight of EU airspace by Belarusian airlines and to prevent access to EU airports for flights operated by these companies
". This is now done: "
EU member states will therefore be required to deny any aircraft operated by Belarusian air carriers, including as a contractual carrier, permission to land on their territory, take off or fly over it
», Indicates the Council in a press release.
New, more targeted sanctions are expected to fall in the coming days: "
EU leaders ... have asked the Council to adopt the necessary measures, including restrictive measures against persons and entities additional [...] and new targeted economic sanctions
”, specifies the institution.
The measures affecting air traffic are not, however, supported by the whole sector: "
aviation safety should never be politicized
", estimated the International Air Transport Association, Friday, denouncing the track "
retrograde and disappointing
" that constitute the air sanctions between the Union and Belarus.
For now, the situation between the EU and Belarus remains blocked. The pressure is mounting and the fate of Roman Protassevich is uncertain: the latter appeared on Belarusian state television on Thursday, but the leader of the opposition, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, considered that this interview had been carried out "
under pressure
". An opinion shared by European chancelleries: Germany, in particular, described the interview as "
shame [...] for Belarusian leaders
", when London considered it "
clearly carried out under duress
".