Lithuania’s Foreign Vice-Minister: ‘The implementation of agreements on the protection of the EU’s external border is necessary to tackle the migration crisis’
On 18 January in Brussels, the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Raimundas Karoblis attended the EU’s General Affairs Council, which prepared for the European Council to be held on 18 and 19 February. At the meeting, the EU leaders will aim to reach an agreement on EU reforms proposed by the UK. The leaders will also assess whether the measures taken in recent months to tackle the migration crisis have been properly implemented.
Karoblis noted that in order to manage migration flows effectively, it was necessary to implement the already agreed upon agreements on the protection and management of the EU’s external border, the return of economic migrants and readmission agreements, as well as to ensure the operation of migrant support groups in hotspots.
“The functioning of the Schengen area is possible only if the external borders are protected effectively”, said the Vice-Minister, who also recalled the need to reach an agreement on the establishment of a European Border and Coast Guard, and a revised proposal on Smart Borders.
The Council also discussed a possibility that the February European Council should agree on mutually satisfactory solutions concerning the United Kingdom’s priorities for reform in four key areas: economic governance, competitiveness, sovereignty and immigration.
Karoblis noted that Lithuania was willing to look for solutions and openly discuss the reforms proposed by the UK. According to Lithuania’s Foreign Vice-Minister, such decisions should be based on the provisions of the existing EU treaties and in line with the fundamental principles of the EU, such as the freedom of movement of persons and non-discrimination.
For more information on the Council meeting, please read here.
Photo of the Council of the European Union: Karoblis (first from left).
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