EU asks 'proactive effort' from Arab airlines amid Belarus migrant crisis

BRUSSELS

The European Commission asked on Wednesday the Arab airlines to cooperate in stopping the migration crisis at the bloc’s borders with Belarus.

European Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas and European Commissioner for Transport Adina Valean held a videoconference with the representatives of the Arab Air Carriers Organization (AACO).

“Message from the EU is clear: no one should allow themselves to be embroiled in the Belarusian authorities’ unacceptable practices,” Shinas said on Twitter, following the conversation with AACO that he describes as “honest.”

“We count on airlines’ proactive effort now,” he added, warning that “this is a moment of truth.”

Schinas and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell will soon travel to countries of origin and transit to raise the authorities’ awareness of the dangerous tactics of the Belarusian regime and to stop the flights to Belarus.

According to the EU, the Belarusian regime reaches out to potential travelers by seemingly official channels, through diplomatic representations or travel agencies, and invites them to Belarus by offering visas and guiding them to the EU border.

NATO and the EU consider Belarus’ approach towards migrants a hybrid threat meant to destabilize and undermine security in European countries through non-military means.

EU countries bordering Belarus -- Lithuania, Latvia, and Poland -- have been reporting a dramatically growing number of irregular crossings since August.

By Tuesday night, at least 2,000 people, including women and children, got stuck at the Belarusian-Polish border area without shelter or food.

According to the EU’s latest figures, 7,935 people tried to enter the bloc via the Belarus-EU border so far this year, up sharply from just 150 last year.