Prime Minister: all EU member states are responsible for the protection of external borders
Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė has met with President of the European Parliament David Sassoli to discuss irregular migration from Belarus to Lithuania and the European Union initiatives in this regard.
‘We thank the European Parliament for its attention to irregular migration. We support the European Parliament’s initiative in raising the issue across the EU, and we look forward to further understanding. We also welcome the European Parliament’s position on defending human rights in the totalitarian regimes, supporting the Belarusian opposition, and calling for tougher sanctions on the regime,’ said the Prime Minister.
According to Šimonytė, Lithuania is facing a hybrid war, which is directed against the entire EU and democratic values. Therefore, Lithuania greatly appreciates the solidarity and support provided by the EU and its member states.
Lithuania’s border is protected by means of all the possible legal and proportionate measures to prevent irregular border crossings. More than 4 100 irregular migrants have been apprehended this year (74 migrants were apprehended in 2020). The majority of migrants have arrived from Iraq, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guinea, Iran, and Syria.
Lithuania has strengthened border control, enhanced migrant reception capacity, and is looking for new solutions that would allow for reception of additional migrant flows if needed.
‘We are requesting support for the cooperation with Turkey and Iraq to achieve long-term suspension of flights to Belarus and to implement readmission. Lithuania also needs additional funding from the EU, including for the construction of a physical barrier. Protecting the EU’s external borders is the responsibility of the EU as a whole, and not of individual member states,’ said the Prime Minister.
It has been agreed that pressure on the Belarusian regime should continue to grow, and that EU sectorial sanctions should continue to be applied. It is also necessary to extend personal sanctions to all those directly and indirectly involved in the organisation of illegal migration flows.
The meeting has focused on strengthening the Eastern Partnership, as well as the forthcoming Eastern Partnership Summit. Prime Minister Šimonytė has assured President of the European Parliament Sassoli that Lithuania is ready to work to strengthen the strategic content of the Eastern Partnership and to offer motivating objectives to the Eastern Partners. The meeting has also discussed the European integration of the Western Balkans and the situation in Afghanistan.