<article><p class="lead">EU foreign ministers are open to extending sanctions or establishing other measures to prevent Belarus' state-owned airline Belavia leasing aircraft to bring refugees into the bloc.</p><p>EU countries, most notably Lithuania and Poland, accused Lukashenko of smuggling refugees into the EU after arranging flights to Minsk, </p><p>"We no longer accept firms, including airlines, that earn money by bringing refugees to Germany and other EU countries," German foreign affairs minister Heiko Maas said at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg. "We need to talk about consequences for such airlines. We need sanctions to make clear that we're not prepared to accept this.</p><p>"[Belarus President Alexander] Lukashenko is nothing more than the boss of a state smuggling ring," said Maas.</p><p>In August, the UK, US and Canada <a href="https://direct.argusmedia.com/newsandanalysis/article/2242540">imposed sanctions</a> against Lukashenko's government over a crackdown on opposition. The measures complemented action by the EU in June, notably against <a href="https://direct.argusmedia.com/newsandanalysis/article/2227917">Minsk's potash industry</a>. The EU also has measures banning overflight by <a href="https://direct.argusmedia.com/newsandanalysis/article/2220975">EU airlines in Belarus airspace</a> and member states banning Belarus state-owned airline Belavia.</p><p>Lithuanian foreign affairs minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said flows of migrants are not diminishing.</p><p>"They are employing new flights from a number of countries in the Middle East and North Africa," Landsbergis said. "We know the airlines that are taking people in, we know which capitals they are coming from."</p><p>Irish foreign minister Simon Coveney said much aircraft leasing takes place from Ireland, but is "not sure" how existing contracts can be wound down legally.</p><p>"Ireland is open to a new round of sanctions targetting individuals in Belarus," he said. "On aircraft leasing, there is a distinction between ensuring there are no future additional contracts are put in place and responding to existing contracts."</p><p>EU sanctions and foreign policy must be agreed by all member states. Despite reservations about the practicalities, Coveney finds Belarus' use of migrants "completely unacceptable".</p><p class="bylines">By Dafydd ab Iago</p></article>
