The 14 and 15 May the international conference took place, organised by the Party of the European Left and its member party the Belarusian Party of the Left “Fair World” in Minsk, Belarus.

Substantial topics and controversial issues have been approached as the relations between the European Union and its eastern neighbours of the Eurasian economic Union.

Margarita Mileva, EL-Vice President and president of the Bulgarian Left, Vieira Hudeckova from the Czech party SDS and Uta Wegner from Die Linke were part of the EL delegation, together with the EL Office members.

In this 5^th meeting organised by the Belarusian Party of the Left under EL-support, after the welcome from the side of the Fair World chairman, Sergey Kalyakin, who introduced the importance of a multilateral economic cooperation, the EL Vice-President Margarita Mileva opened up the exchanges in a comprehensive way.

She recalled how important the EU’s Eastern borders are, especially in this period of wars, migration and deep crisis of the EU. “This crisis can only can only find a feasible wayout with a positive resolution with less militarisation at the internal and external borders”, she said, “The EU’s security can only be granted through collective work involving Russia”.

During the conference a geostrategic analysis relating to the eastern side of Europe was made, the sense of “multi-vectoral policy” was declined with interests related to Russia, China and of course post-Soviet states such as Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine which are related to the EU via the “Eastern partnership initiative” launched in 2008.

Speeches by several politicians, party representatives, academics, trade unionists from different countries such as Belarus, Russia, Germany and Ukraine developed argumentations from their perspectives, raising topics related to economy, labour conditions, students, public services, development, integration and democracy all approached in a possible constructive dialogue between EU and Russia, everything in an extreme participative environment.

From Die Linke, Uta Wegner, looked at the implications and consequences of the sanctions the EU imposed on Russia in the course of the Ukraine crisis. How are political and economic prospects for further cooperation facing the current tense situation?

Solidarity and cooperation among people are the key approaches promoted by the EL, especially in this area, especially in this historical period of massive transitions of people and tensions. The eastern partnership could not be regarded as a second tier of importance and progressive parties of the left - both within the European Union and from the East - shall struggle together against growing fascism, racism and nationalism. This is the only way to overcome confrontation and walking together toward a fruitious cooperation among countries for the good of workers and the weakest.