OREANDA-NEWS. May 17, 2010. Rationality is vital in understanding the problems in the EU-Belarus relations, head of the Bridge international project, director of the European Institute for Ethnic, Regional and Sociological Studies of the University of Maribor (Slovenia) Prof. Silvo Devetak said at an international seminar in Gomel as part of the Bridge project (Enhancement of Mutual Understanding and Cooperation between the EU and Belarus, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine).

In his words, visa facilitation is necessary to establish close cooperation between Belarus and the European Union. The fact that Belarus is not a full-fledged member of the European community is still a big obstacle for developing further bilateral cooperation, the professor believes. Sometimes sharp criticism of Belarus provided by some mass media only harms the people of Belarus and the European countries.

“We should look forward, and necessary doors will soon open for the benefit of the European nations,” the head of the Bridge project said. The analysis of the geopolitical situation and integration processes within the European Neighborhood Policy and the European Partnership, comments and recommendations on possible projects and cooperation areas between Belarus and the European Union will be presented to the European Commission after the project is competed in 2012. The document will be available to all member-states of the project, Silvo Devetak stressed.

Partaking in the seminar at the Belarusian Trade and Economic University of Consumer Cooperation in Gomel were representatives of the Foreign Ministry of Belarus, the EU Office in Belarus, the Gomel oblast executive committee, the Gomel Office of the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, heads of the leading research institutes and establishments of Belarus, Slovenia and others.

The Bridge international project has been developed and coordinated by the European Institute for Ethnic, Regional and Sociological Studies (ISCOMET) of the town of Maribor, Slovenia. The partners of the project are the universities of Belarus (the Belarusian Trade and Economic University of Consumer Cooperation), Slovenia, Moldova, Ukraine, Russia, Romania, Italy and Germany. The four-year project is financed by the European Commission and comprises an array of seminars, conferences, training courses for civilians and public servants in every participating state. The Belarusian Trade and Economic University has hosted the seminar for the second time. The previous one took place in October 2009. Such seminars have been recently conducted in Chisinau and Odessa. A similar meeting will be soon held in Moscow.