According to the President, the current agreement with Turkey is complicated and difficult to implement. Making it functional requires that Turkey and Greece change their respective legal acts and asylum procedures.
Dalia Grybauskaitė also emphasized that a European solution to the migration crisis first of all meant the protection of the EU's external borders. It is necessary to help refugees; however, Europe must assess what number of people it is capable of taking in and must not be afraid to say that doors for economic migrants are closing.
Lithuania understands its responsibility to help people fleeing war. Our country provides humanitarian aid to refugees in Greece by allocating food, tents, heating appliances, and other basic necessities. However, assistance to refugees does not mean that Europe's borders must remain open – they can be helped closer to home.
As the Western Balkan route used by most migrants to reach Europe is closing down, EU leaders will also discuss how to prevent new migration paths from emerging. This needs not only effective control over the external borders but also more active exchange of intelligence among member states.
The European Council will also discuss the EU's Annual Growth Survey submitted by the European Commission and the common policies endorsed to boost economic growth. All member states will have to take them into account. The European Commission recommends pursuing the policies defined last year – to promote investment, carry out structural reforms and follow a responsible fiscal policy. Progress achieved by Lithuania and other EU members in implementing the European Commission's economic and social recommendations for 2015 will also be assessed.
