Minister Katelynas in Luxembourg: Europe must move from discussion to results on migration
Minister of the Interior Martynas Katelynas attended a meeting of the European Union’s Justice and Home Affairs Council in Luxembourg. Interior ministers discussed the situation in the Schengen area, migration management, the return of people staying irregularly in the EU, drug-related violence and intimidation, and preparedness to respond promptly to emerging migration and security threats.
During the discussion on Schengen, Minister Katelynas highlighted the importance of stronger protection of the EU’s external borders, closer cooperation between law enforcement authorities, and the use of modern technologies. According to the minister, a secure Schengen area depends above all on countries’ ability to reliably protect the EU’s external borders and exchange information promptly.
The Council also devoted considerable attention to migrant return policy. EU interior ministers discussed how to strengthen cooperation with third countries on the readmission of people who have no right to remain in the European Union.
“In implementing our return policy, we must move from discussions to results. When a decision is made that a person has no right to remain in the European Union, countries must have effective means to enforce it. This requires both stronger political pressure and closer cooperation with countries of origin,” said Minister Katelynas.
The Council also discussed how the EU could identify emerging migration crises earlier and improve the exchange of information about the situation beyond its external borders. According to Minister Katelynas, Europe must focus more on prevention, rather than only responding to crises once they have arisen.
“We must identify and respond to migration risks before they reach the EU’s external borders. It is better to prevent a crisis than to try to manage it afterwards,” emphasised the Minister of the Interior.
EU interior ministers also discussed how to combat drug-related crime, violence and intimidation more effectively. The discussion highlighted the need for a response that combines law enforcement measures with stronger prevention and support for victims.
Minister Katelynas also drew attention to broader challenges to Europe’s internal security: hybrid threats posed by Russia, cyberattacks, disinformation and the malicious use of drones. According to the minister, countries must strengthen information sharing and invest more in preparedness for such threats.
Lithuania intends to actively raise these issues during its Presidency of the Council of the EU in the first half of 2027.