EU to hold a meeting of Home Affairs to discuss migration issue at the Lithuanian-Belarus border

The Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the European Union will hold a meeting with the EU ministers of Home Affairs on 18 August to discuss the many migrants trying to cross the border illegally from Belarus into Lithuania.

Representatives of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, Frontex, EU's law enforcement agency, Europol, and the European Asylum Support Office will also take part in the video discussion, the Slovenian government announced on Friday (6 August). Slovenia currently holds the EU presidency. According to a government spokesman, the EU is "facing a serious security threat" and Belarus is using illegal migration as a weapon.

The EU claims that Belarus aims to set up borders for the passage of migrants to Europe, mainly Iraqis and Afghans, to pressure the power bloc to drop EU sanctions against the country.

In a reaction, the EU summoned the Belarusian envoy to Brussels on Thursday (5 August) and held talks with the Iraqi government after it accused Belarus of creating a refugee problem in response to the sanctions.

In July, Lithuania declared a state of emergency due to the sudden increased influx of migrants from Belarus. According to Lithuanian politicians, the number of flights between Belarus and Afghanistan has increased as part of a strategy to push more migrants towards Lithuania. Lithuania is building a border wall and Frontex has doubled its presence on the Lithuanian-Belarusian border. Brussels also discussed with the Iraqi government this week the possibility of cancelling flights between Baghdad and Minsk.


source: commonspace.eu with agencies
photo: Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė and President of the European Council Charles Michel visited the Lithuanian-Belarusian border (Office of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania)

Related articles

Editor's choice
News
Borrell tells the European Parliament that the situation in Afghanistan was critical, but the EU will remain engaged

Borrell tells the European Parliament that the situation in Afghanistan was critical, but the EU will remain engaged

Borrell underlined that the European Union will make every effort to support the peace process and to remain a committed partner to the Afghan people. "Of course, we will have to take into account the evolving situation, but disengagement is not an option.  We are clear on that: there is no alternative to a negotiated political settlement, through inclusive peace talks.
Editor's choice
News
US and Ukraine sign deal giving US access to country’s valuable mineral wealth

US and Ukraine sign deal giving US access to country’s valuable mineral wealth

The United States and Ukraine have signed a minerals deal after a two-month delay, in what President Donald Trump's administration called a new form of US commitment to Kyiv after the end of military aid. Ukraine said it secured key interests after protracted negotiations, including full sovereignty over its own rare earths, which are vital for new technologies and largely untapped. Trump had initially demanded rights to Ukraine's mineral wealth as compensation for US weapons sent under former president Joe Biden after Russia invaded just over three years ago.

Popular

Editor's choice
News
US and Ukraine sign deal giving US access to country’s valuable mineral wealth

US and Ukraine sign deal giving US access to country’s valuable mineral wealth

The United States and Ukraine have signed a minerals deal after a two-month delay, in what President Donald Trump's administration called a new form of US commitment to Kyiv after the end of military aid. Ukraine said it secured key interests after protracted negotiations, including full sovereignty over its own rare earths, which are vital for new technologies and largely untapped. Trump had initially demanded rights to Ukraine's mineral wealth as compensation for US weapons sent under former president Joe Biden after Russia invaded just over three years ago.