In his welcome address Mr Jānis Ādamsons, MP from Latvia, Chair of the BA Legal Affairs and Security Committee, emphasized that the Baltic States have to be united in addressing refugee-related issues: "We should harmonise our regulatory framework and coordinate activities of our law enforcement institutions. This would enable us to get prepared for the settlement of refugees, undertake thorough preventive measures and subsequently combat possible manifestations of crime and terrorism.
Mr Ādamsons noted that all the three Baltic States had repeatedly stated they refused to support the mandatory refugee quotas. He added, however, that they had made voluntary commitments to take in a specific number of refugees in their countries. In his view, BA and the Parliaments of the Baltic States had to consider and adopt a decision to give only temporary residence permits to refugees: "It is our wish that they return to their country of origin some day in the future, when the situation there is back to normal."
The first asylum seekers' family comprising 4 members (Iraq) was transferred from Greece to Lithuania on 15 December 2015. Lithuania has pledged to take in 1,105 asylum seekers from other European Union Member States and third countries by the end of 2017. Two more refugee families (10 members) are expected to arrive in our country later this month.
Mr Artūras Paulauskas, Chair of the Seimas National Security and Defence Committee, highlighted the critical importance of a thorough screening process of people set to arrive „to ensure that only those in need of international protection, rather than seekers of economic welfare, are let in. We may not admit people posing a threat to public order and security".
The Chair of the Seimas Committee argued that intensive efforts in the area of public communication were of special significance: "Society must understand that the people eligible for international protection are fleeing their homes due to hellish conditions of life. Therefore, while admitting their families we should not create similar conditions here as well."
Mr Ādamsons and Mr Paulauskas noted that the gradually increasing flows of refugees require a particular focus on their social integration to ensure their successful adaptation in our cultural environment in the course of integration processes. It is important to inform these people about our countries' legislation, procedures and penalties applied. Both MPs agreed it was necessary that the aliens learn to support themselves the way our citizens do and create conditions for them to become a part of our states who would live in accordance with our regulations, rather than stay segregated and create the rules of their own.
"We must respect their innate rights the way we respect our own citizens. On the other hand, they must obey our laws the same way as we do," said Mr Paulauskas.
Mr Artūras Norkevičius, Vice-Minister of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania, noted that active and swift steps at the EU level and more efficient implementation of the current measures in tackling the refugee crisis should contribute to the reduction of migrant flows to Europe and stabilisation of the situation. The measures included more effective implementation of the return policy (people getting to the EU illegally should be detained and sent out back immediately); boosting of the protection of the EU external borders and restoration of order in the Schengen area; more effectively controlling migration on the Member States' territories and ensuring proper and impartial communication to migrants.
The tight linkages among the organised crime, refugees and terrorism, closer cooperation between border guard and other services were also at the focus of attention of the BA meeting.
Mr Ādamsons, the Chair of the BA Legal Affairs and Security Committee, pointed out that organised crime was continually growing in scale, it was technically well equipped and, therefore, a speedy development of border guard services, police and other respective services alongside with this phenomenon was required.
"We should give special attention to prevention of terrorism and strengthening of intelligence capabilities, while intelligence services have to willingly share any well-timed information that could contribute to prevention of the crimes," said Mr Paulauskas.
Mr Tomas Žilinskas, Director of the Public Security Policy Department of the Lithuanian Ministry of the Interior, gave an overview of the implementation of the BA recommendations for 2012–2015 in regard to combatting cybercrime and fight against spread of drugs.
Dr Olga Petrova, Researcher of the University of Latvia; Mr Imants Zaķis, Senior Desk Officer of the Sectoral Policy Department of the Latvian Ministry of the Interior; Ms Helen Neider-Veerme, Head of the Integrated Border Management Coordination Bureau of the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board; Mr Andis Arums, Representative of the Latvian Security Police; Mr Georgios Vourekas, Head of the Sea Border Sector of the Frontex; Mr Gintautas Zinkevičius, Senior Adviser of the Commander of the State Border Guard Service of the Lithuanian Ministry of the Interior; Mr Mariks Petrušins, Chief of the Operational Management Board of the Central Board of the Latvian State Border Guard also shared their insights on the issues above.
