We condemn the weaponization of irregular migration by the Lukashenka regime with a goal of exerting political pressure on the EU and its individual Member States. It once again shows the cynical nature of the Belarusian regime and calls for a swift response and joint EU actions in dealing with this security challenge,’ reads the joint statement.
Prime ministers emphasize that as the hybrid war launched by the Belarusian regime against the European Union continues, Belarus neighbours, Lithuania and Poland, are the main targets on Lukashenka’s list. Lithuania is now at the frontline of the illegal migration flows state-sponsored by Belarus.
The statement underlines that Lithuania, together with Poland and other EU member states, as well as respective international organizations, is fighting this hybrid threat and is doing everything to keep the integrity of the EU’s eastern border intact. Poland supports Lithuania and jointly and severally fulfils its duty to protect the EU’s external borders and cooperates with the EU institutions for this purpose.
‘We appeal to the European Commission, Frontex, EASO, all EU Member States and our partners outside the EU for the political and practical support provided in dealing with this challenge. The situation on the EU’s eastern border shows no signs of improvement and the number of illegal arrivals through the border with Belarus is further increasing, reaching several hundred a day. In this unprecedented for our region situation, Lithuania and Poland call upon the EU and its Member States to continue and step up urgent diplomatic, financial and technical support to Lithuania in its fight with the consequences of the criminal actions of the Lukashenka regime. We call on the EU institutions to use all means at their disposal to cut the new irregular migration route at its inception, as soon as possible,’ stresses the joint statement.
The Lithuanian and Polish Prime Ministers also urge the EU and its Member States to use this momentum to strengthen the common EU migration and asylum policy as well as to rethink the approach towards the protection of common borders. The Prime Ministers firmly believe that the protection of external Schengen borders is not just the duty of individual Member States but also the common responsibility of the EU. Hence, proper political attention should be paid to it on the EU level and sufficient funding allocated.
Lithuania and Poland insist on the need for a swift and decisive response to the Belarusian regime and all those involved in organizing and facilitating smuggling of illegal migrants, including through extension of the EU restrictive measures on the Belarusian regime.
