#WithBelarus: Young Parliamentarians call for Tsikhanouskaya to address European Council

Brussels. Young parliamentarians and youth-political organizations from across Europe have today published an open letter to European Council President Charles Michel urging him to invite the leader of the Belarusian opposition, Svetlana Tsikhanouskaya, to address this week’s meeting of the European Council. The initiative is being spearheaded by the President of the Youth of the European People’s Party (YEPP) Lidia Pereira MEP.

Dear President Charles Michel,

In August of this year, following the Belarusian Presidential election, the Youth of the European People’s Party (YEPP) launched a campaign called #WithBelarus to show our support for the people of Belarus and send them a clear message of European solidarity. This campaign has drawn support from our member organizations and young parliamentarians from across Europe. As you are aware, the situation in Belarus has continued to escalate and protestors continue to risk their own safety by taking to the streets to make their voices heard.

Each day protestors are being arrested and tortured for opposing the Lukashenko regime and this fight will not end until their demand for democratic change is met. In light of this, we see it as imperative to invite the leader of the Belarusian opposition, Svetlana Tsikhanouskaya, to address the upcoming meeting of the European Council. As Belarusian issues are European issues, it is crucial that the true voice of the Belarusian people is heard at the highest level of European politics. Inviting Ms. Tsikhanouskaya to address the meeting would be a clear statement showing that the European Union stands with the people of Belarus in their fight for a future that is democratic and free.

Yours sincerely:

1. Lidia Pereira MEP, YEPP President, PSD, (Portugal)
2. Siegfried Muresan, EPP Vice-President, PNL (Romania)
3. Eva Maydell MEP, GERB (Bulgaria)
4. Sven Simon MEP, CDU (Germany)
5. Roberta Metsola MEP, PN (Malta)
6. Christophe Hansen MEP, CSV (Luxembourg)
7. Maria Walsh MEP, Fine Gael (Ireland)
8. François-Xavier Bellamy MEP, LR (France)
9. Stelios Kympouropoulos MEP, New Democracy (Greece)
10. Tomáš Zdechovský MEP, KDU-ČSL (Czechia)
11. Karlo Ressler MEP, HDZ (Croatia)
12. Isabel Benjumea MEP, Partido Popular (Spain)
13. Lukas Mandl MEP, Volkspartei (Austria)
14. Magdalena Adamowicz MEP, Independent (Poland)
15. Arba Kokalari MEP, Moderaterna (Sweden)
16. Neale Richmond MP, Fine Gael (Ireland)
17. Kostas Kyranakis MP, New Democracy (Greece)
18. Christos Dermentzopoulos MP, New Democracy (Greece)
19. Evangelos Liakos MP, New Democracy (Greece)
20. Yiannis Melas MP, New Democracy (Greece)
21. Tasos Chatzivasileiou MP, New Democracy (Greece)
22. Mara Mares MP, YEPP Vice President, PNL, (Romania) 
23. Alexandre Poco, PSD (Portugal)
24. Sofia Matos MP, PSD (Portugal)
25. Andre Neves MP, PSD (Portugal)
26. Margarida Balseiro Lopes MP, PSD (Portugal)
27. Duarte Marques MP, PSD (Portugal)
28. Barry Ward Senator, Fine Gael (Ireland)
29. Pierre-Henri Dumont MP, LR (France)
30. Diego Gago Bugarin MP, on behalf of young parliamentarians from Partido Popular (Spain)
31. Pawel Kowal MP, PO (Poland)
32. Martina Kaufmann MP, ÖVP (Austria)
33. Stijn De Roo MP, CD&V (Belgium)
34. Maaike de rudder MP, CD&V (Belgium)
35. Brecht Warnez MP, CD&V (Belgium)
36. Orry Van de Wauwer MP, CD&V (Belgium)
37. Nawal Farih MP, CD&V (Belgium)
38. TLDM, Moldova
39. KrFU, Norway
40. KDU, Sweden
41. JONGCD&V, Belgium
42. JeunesCDH, Belgium
43. YFG, Ireland
44. JG SVP, Italy
45. ONNED, Greece
46. FIG, Italy
47. JSD, Portugal
48. NNGG, Spain
49. MUF, Sweden
50. TNL, Romania