EU open to further Belarus airline sanctions

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.

EU countries, most notably Lithuania and Poland, accused Lukashenko of smuggling refugees into the EU after arranging flights to Minsk,

"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.

"[Belarus President Alexander] Lukashenko is nothing more than the boss of a state smuggling ring," said Maas.

In August, the UK, US and Canada imposed sanctions against Lukashenko's government over a crackdown on opposition. The measures complemented action by the EU in June, notably against Minsk's potash industry. The EU also has measures banning overflight by EU airlines in Belarus airspace and member states banning Belarus state-owned airline Belavia.

Lithuanian foreign affairs minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said flows of migrants are not diminishing.

"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."

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.

"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."

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".

By Dafydd ab Iago