Minister Katelynas and Polish minister discuss border security and secondary migration
At the Lithuanian–Polish border, Minister of the Interior Martynas Katelynas met with Poland’s Minister of the Interior and Administration, Marcin Kierwiński. The meeting focused on the situation at Lithuania’s and Poland’s borders, EU migration and border management policy, and efforts to combat secondary irregular migration and migrant smuggling.
“Our countries’ borders are under constant pressure. Lithuania and Poland share a common goal: to ensure the protection of our borders and effectively prevent irregular migrants from moving through our countries and across the Schengen area,” said Minister Katelynas.
Minister Katelynas emphasised that the regional security environment has changed significantly, while the threat of the instrumentalisation of migration persists. Secondary migration has become one of the main challenges facing Lithuania and Poland today.
“We need to pay greater attention to the organisers of migrant smuggling, who not only transport migrants but also spread misleading information on social media. We must strengthen the monitoring of these illegal activities and make better use of the capabilities of EU agencies,” said Minister Katelynas.
This year, Lithuanian border guards have apprehended more than 900 irregular migrants who are believed to have entered Lithuania from Latvia and attempted to travel through the country to other European states. To strengthen efforts to combat secondary migration, Lithuania has repeatedly deployed officers from the State Border Guard Service to Latvia at the Latvian authorities’ request.
An agreement between the Lithuanian and Polish governments on cooperation between police, border guard and customs services is currently being finalised.
According to the minister, the agreement is particularly relevant in the current security environment. This bilateral agreement will strengthen practical cooperation between the two countries’ services and provide a solid foundation for joint action.
The meeting also addressed EU migration policy. Minister Katelynas emphasised that assessments of EU Member States’ solidarity should also take into account their efforts to protect external borders and assist other countries in managing migration flows.
“The challenges posed by irregular migration also threaten the security of Europe as a whole. Our shared task is to ensure that the current migration system functions effectively and can adapt to the changing security environment,” said the Minister of the Interior.
Minister Katelynas also highlighted the importance of an effective return policy and a stronger operational role for Frontex. Lithuania intends to actively raise these issues during its Presidency of the Council of the EU in the first half of 2027.
Photo: Teodoras Biliūnas/BNS