Thread by @jonworth

To those saying the EU is too weak or divided to do anything about the Belarus regime... let’s stop and ask: what could the EU do?

A quick 🧵

The EU could impose further sanctions on Lukashenko and his allies

Morally sound. Impact probably minimal. Not going to force him out, as Russia still backs him

Impose a set of wider sanctions on Belarus overall

This is more messy. It’ll hurt ordinary people - might that help them rise up to overthrow the regime? Looks unlikely

Ban Belarus airline Belavia from using EU airspace (and hence no flights to EU)

Doable. Perhaps fair as retribution. But it’s not going to topple Lukashenko

Ban EU planes from flying over Belarus airspace

Not a bad idea, although a bit like closing the stable door after the horse has bolted

But beyond that what is there? Especially as it looks like Russia helped... and Russia is propping up Lukashenko

So stop Nordstream II? Stop Russian planes using EU airspace? No overflight over Russia? The former would be a good idea *anyway*. But the others?

Strikes me it’s one thing to demand tougher action, and quite another to envisage what realistically could be done here. If I’m missing something then do add!

/ends