Migration: Commissioner Johansson travels to Lithuania to discuss support for management of situation at external border with Belarus

On Sunday (1 August), Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson (pictured), travelled to Lithuania to meet with senior government officials to discuss the situation at the external border with Belarus and any additional European support needed for border and migration management or diplomatic outreach, in line with the principles of the New Pact on Migration and Asylum.

The commissioner met with Gitanas Nausėda, president of Lithuania, Ingrida Šimonytė, prime minister of Lithuania, Agnė Bilotaitė, minister of interior and Mantas Adomėnas, vice minister of foreign affairs, responsible for Eastern Partnership and relations with Asian countries.

On 2 August, the commissioner and the prime minister held a joint press point, available on EbS. She then visited the Padvarionys border crossing point with the minister of interior and will meet with Lithuanian, Frontex and European Asylum Support Office staff at the Medininkai Border Guard Service training centre. Finally, the commissioner and Minister Bilotaitė held a press conference, also available on EbS.

The Commissioner's visit will be followed on 5-6 August by a visit of Commission officials to make a strategic assessment on the ground. This year, over 3,000 people, including many children, have crossed irregularly into Lithuania from Belarus. The EU firmly rejects attempts by third countries to incite or acquiesce in irregular migration towards the EU and is fully supporting Lithuania, through operational support from European agencies, financial support, supporting the strengthening of border surveillance capacity and in humanitarian aid through the EU's Civil Protection Mechanism.

High Representative/Vice President Borrell and the Commission are also fully engaged in diplomatic outreach to countries of origin. For more detail, please see an interview with Commissioner Johansson here.

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