Отношения Республики Беларусь и Европейского союза: внутренний и внешний контекст

Abstract

The article deals with development of the relation of Belarus with the European Union, the biggest and the most dynamic regional organization. The researcher characterizes the main stages of the evolution of the relations in question and analyses their current state. The paper focuses on the internal and external factors which determine the level of Belarusian participation in European integration, such as political differences between the leadership of Belarus and the EU, the role of Russia and the neighbouring countries, the would-be members of the EU (Poland, Lithuania, Latvia) in the development of cooperation of official Minsk with the European institutions. A particular place is given to the analysis of the population attitudes to the integration processes both in the western and eastern directions. The author's conclusions are supported by the sociological data.