Minister Katelynas in Munich: the EU must manage migration more effectively
Minister of the Interior Martynas Katelynas, at the invitation of German Federal Minister of the Interior Alexander Dobrindt, took part in a meeting of European interior ministers in Munich, where the main challenges related to migration management, returns and the protection of the EU’s external borders were discussed.
According to Minister Katelynas, one of the key problems is that prevented attempts to cross the EU’s external border irregularly are not sufficiently reflected when assessing migratory pressure. Lithuania, together with Poland, Latvia, Estonia and Finland, has already called on the European Commission to include such data in its assessment of migratory pressure.
“A prevented attempt to cross the border illegally is not a statistical error. It reflects real pressure on the EU’s external border and must therefore be properly taken into account,” Minister Katelynas said.
The meeting also focused on more effective returns and strengthening the role of Frontex. According to the Minister, return decisions must be effectively implemented, while Member States need greater capacity to respond quickly in situations where migration is instrumentalised and used as a tool of pressure.
In Munich, Minister Katelynas also held separate meetings with the interior ministers of Germany, the Czech Republic, Italy and France. During the meetings, he presented Lithuania’s priorities for its Presidency of the Council of the European Union and the key issues Lithuania will seek to advance in 2027.
As Lithuania prepares for its Presidency of the Council of the EU, the protection of the EU’s external borders, effective migration management and resilience to hybrid threats will be among the key priorities in the field of home affairs.