Minister of the Interior V. Kondratovič Meets with French Ambassador A. Everard
Minister of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania Vladislav Kondratovič, held a meeting with the Ambassador of the French Republic to Lithuania, Alix Everard. The discussions focused on the challenges posed by irregular migration, avenues for strengthening bilateral cooperation, and matters pertaining to civil protection.
Minister Kondratovič underscored that irregular migration continues to present a serious challenge to Lithuania. This year alone, over 700 individuals attempting to cross the national border illegally have been apprehended, while since 2021, more than 23,000 such incidents have been recorded.
“Lithuania has, for several years, been subjected to a form of hybrid aggression. Nonetheless, our border guards have succeeded in effectively safeguarding the external border of the European Union. This year, we are observing a growing trend in irregular migration flows, both in Lithuania and in neighboring countries,” stated the Minister.
The Minister informed the Ambassador that earlier this week Lithuania filed a case against the Republic of Belarus with the International Court of Justice. “The actions of the Belarusian regime—instrumentalizing migrants as a means of political coercion—are wholly unacceptable and must be addressed through international accountability. Lithuania remains resolutely committed to the protection of the EU’s external borders and will take all necessary measures to counter this threat,” he emphasized.
Minister Kondratovič also highlighted the Ministry’s focused efforts on the implementation of the EU Migration and Asylum Pact. However, he noted that the current framework fails to adequately address the core issue of the instrumentalization of migrants, offering primarily reactive measures for consequence management.
“We must continue discussions at the EU level in pursuit of innovative solutions for migration management, aimed at diminishing the pull factors that drive irregular migration into the European Union. Furthermore, it is essential to enable more flexible decision-making processes, thereby enhancing the capacity of Member States to respond swiftly and effectively to emerging threats,” the Minister remarked.
The Minister further stressed the importance of reinforcing the EU’s return policy by employing all available instruments to promote cooperation with third countries—ranging from visa regimes and development cooperation to trade relations and diplomatic engagement. He expressed support for the European Commission’s proposed Return Regulation.
Minister Kondratovič concluded by noting that Lithuania’s entire external border is now under surveillance using state-of-the-art technologies, with 90 percent of border guards equipped with weaponry meeting NATO standards. In addition, last year saw the modernization of the border patrol route.
Last updated: 27-05-2025
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