“The protection of the European Union’s (EU) external borders is a shared responsibility between the EU institutions and the Member States. Illegal migration can be exploited against any country, so regional instruments are urgently needed. “A statement circulated by the Office of the President of Lithuania quoted Nauseda.
The Presidents of Lithuania and Poland have emphasized that the flow of illegal migration is a hybrid attack used by Belarus as a geopolitical weapon against the EU.
Mr Nausäd emphasized the need to set up a physical barrier along the border as soon as possible, noting that EU financial support is essential for this purpose, and that EU assistance is also needed to implement readmission procedures for illegal migrants.
According to him, negotiations are already underway with the countries of origin and transit of migrants, trying to stop the flow of migrants, curb human smuggling and prevent the possible threat of terrorism.
The President of Lithuania thanked the Polish President for the support of the neighboring country in resolving the migrant crisis.
The total number of illegal immigrants apprehended at the Lithuanian-Belarusian border has exceeded 4,000 since the beginning of this year, but a week ago, Lithuanian Interior Minister Agne Bilotaite signed an order requiring border guards to force migrants crossing the border back.
Since then, the number of detained migrants has decreased significantly, but it has increased at the borders of Belarus with Latvia and Poland.
On Friday, Poland and Lithuania requested the help of the EU institutions, and the bloc’s interior ministers will discuss the situation at an extraordinary meeting on 18 August.
