Seimas ratifies the Agreement on Co-operation for the establishment of the Council of Europe Information Point for Belarusian People

Press release, 20 November 2025 (News ● Photos ● Broadcasts and videos)

The Seimas ratified the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Lithuania and the Council of Europe on Co-operation for the establishment of the Council of Europe Information Point for Belarusian People in Vilnius, Lithuania. The relevant law (draft No XVP-594(2)) was unanimously approved by 96 votes in favour. The Agreement was signed in Strasbourg on 13 November 2024.

As Kęstutis Budrys, Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs, noted earlier, once the Agreement enters into force, a Council of Europe Information Point for People would be established in Vilnius to provide Belarusian people with information about the activities of the Council of Europe, as well as about the values and principles enshrined in the Statute and Conventions of the Council of Europe (CoE).

‘Belarus is not a member of the CoE, nor does the CoE have any representation or liaison office in Belarus. Moreover, the ongoing cooperation between the CoE and Belarus has been suspended due to the country’s involvement in the aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine. However, the Committee of Ministers of the CoE, taking into account the role of the CoE in promoting human rights, democracy, and respect for the rule of law in Europe, seeks to nurture and reinforce relations with Belarusian civil society and to set up an information point in Vilnius for this purpose,’ the authors of the initiative wrote in their explanatory note.

According to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, under the Agreement, Lithuania undertakes to provide suitable premises in Vilnius free of rent. ‘The preliminary plan is to offer premises in the Martynas Mažvydas National Library, adjacent to the Seimas. The Council of Europe undertakes, on its part, to cover the expenses for the premises’ equipment and maintenance of the information point, as well as all other costs related to its operations, including staff appropriations,’ Mr Budrys stated some time ago.

Rimas Rudaitis, Adviser, Press Office, Information and Communication Department, tel. +370 5 209 6132, e-mail: [email protected]