On Tuesday, President Gitanas Nausėda met with Magnus Brunner, the European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration. Their meeting focused on the European Union’s response to migration challenges, the protection of the EU’s external borders, strengthening internal security, and Lithuania’s expectations regarding the upcoming multiannual financial framework.
The President emphasized that irregular migration remains one of the EU’s most pressing issues. He highlighted the ongoing hybrid attacks conducted by Belarus and Russia against Lithuania and neighboring EU countries, as well as instrumentalization of migration flows. President Gitanas Nausėda stressed the importance of physical barriers, surveillance systems, and AI-based solutions.
“Our country has taken steps to protect its external border with Belarus by deploying modern technologies and upgrading its border protection capabilities to meet NATO standards. Lithuania expects greater attention and support from the EU for countries safeguarding the Union’s external borders, which face the greatest challenges due to their geographic location,” the President pointed out.
The Head of State welcomed the recently presented ProtectEU Internal Security Strategy and the Preparedness Union Strategy, noting that both appropriately address emerging security threats, including cyber and hybrid attacks, as well as organized crime in the digital sphere. Gitanas Nausėda underlined Lithuania’s support for a comprehensive approach to crisis preparedness, which includes public institutions and society, a unified crisis management framework, stronger integration of civilian and military capabilities, and close cooperation with international partners, particularly NATO.
The President reiterated Lithuania’s key priorities: protecting critical infrastructure, boosting resilience against hybrid threats, enhancing cybersecurity, and strengthening the capabilities of EU law enforcement bodies.
www.president.lt
