On September 10, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko convened a meeting on the licensing of certain types of activities. A draft law titled "On Amending Laws Regarding Licensing," prepared by the Ministry of Economy, was submitted for consideration.

"I consider this issue to be highly important and relevant for the country as a whole," the Belarusian leader noted.

He urged parliamentarians to give this matter serious attention: "First of all, the deputies need to shake things up. They are knowledgeable people. They need to sit down with the relevant stakeholders and work through this bill—looking at the law as a whole, rather than just making piecemeal amendments and additions."

Proposed innovations in the bill include introducing licensing for supplementary education services for children and youth, as well as for the installation and maintenance of intercom systems; it also entails changing requirements for medical professionals in the private healthcare sector.

The Head of State proposed discussing the document's most contentious new provisions to determine the approach for its further refinement in parliament.

Speaking about the term "licensing" itself, Alexander Lukashenko noted that it represents a set of "rules of the game." "At its core lies the concept of authorization: if you have a license, you go to work. There may be restrictions, too," he said. "It is important to understand that any restrictions imposed are a matter of necessity and must serve the greater good rather than cause harm. The goal is to protect people's lives and health and ensure national security. And there is no need to shy away from this—or argue that licensing amounts to excessive regulation—when serious matters are at stake."

According to Alexander Lukashenko, the law needs to define the scope of licensing, including by examining the practices of other countries. "We must approach this law with the utmost seriousness. That is why I insist on a complete overhaul, rather than just amendments and additions," the Belarusian leader emphasized.

"Licensing is by no means an end in itself. Any type of activity can be over-regulated. However, excessive barriers, ill-considered decisions, or even poorly drafted wording can have a highly adverse impact on both the public and the economy," the President noted. "Parliament and the Government must clearly foresee the consequences of their decisions. It is crucial to avoid introducing measures—driven by departmental interests—that could provoke a justified negative public reaction. That factor must be taken into account, too. Yet, that is not the main point. If something needs to be done, it must be done. But we need to understand how it will work in practice—not just in Minsk, but in a remote village as well. The law is the law."

In summary, the President reiterated the fundamental approach: "We should not substitute the erection of administrative barriers for actual problem-solving unless it is truly necessary. Greater attention must also be paid to the outcomes of public discussions on draft laws. The drafts submitted to the President should be those that have undergone full public scrutiny. It is important to gauge public perception of these proposals before they become law. Legislation needs to be as stable as possible."

At a meeting, Alexander Lukashenko outlined the approach to introducing a licensing system for supplementary education for children and youth.

"For a number of years, we have been consistently fine-tuning state regulation of educational activities. I emphasize: fine-tuning, not 'tightening the screws'—as unscrupulous media outlets or pseudo-experts who have fled abroad sometimes try to portray it," the Head of State said. "We certainly should not be overly concerned with what others are doing; we must do what benefits our state. Of course, we will always take opinions into account."

"A definitive decision must be reached regarding education licensing," the President stated.

"The primary requirement in this matter is to protect our children from all manner of charlatans and to ensure equal operating conditions for both public and private entities," the Head of State said.

Alexander Lukashenko emphasized that the education sector is fundamental to the state. "Therefore, we will regulate it with due regard for national interests—regardless of whether some people like it or not," the Belarusian leader noted.

The President asked for a report on the results of the education licensing process and whether order had been successfully established in the sector. He noted that licensing criteria must be clear and understandable to everyone, and inquired about planned measures to avoid creating unnecessary tension within the sector and in society at large.