Vice-Minister Vaitiekūnas discusses Lithuania’s preparations for the Presidency of the Council of the EU with European Commission representative Beate Gminder
On 10 November, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Kristupas Vaitiekūnas met with Beate Gminder, head of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs (DG HOME).
The meeting focused on Lithuania’s preparations for its 2027 Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU), with particular emphasis on migration policy, the protection of the EU’s external borders and countering hybrid threats.
“It is crucial that the EU is able to respond collectively to increasingly frequent hybrid attacks, prevent the instrumentalisation of migration and strengthen the protection of its external borders. It is equally important to ensure an effective migration policy and the efficient management of migration flows,” said Vaitiekūnas.
The meeting also addressed Lithuania’s priorities for strengthening the protection of the EU’s external borders, developing the capabilities of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex), ensuring the effective implementation of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum, and improving return policy and cooperation with third countries. Lithuania also intends to promote the modernisation of EU visa policy, taking into account the EU Visa Strategy.
The Vice-Minister underlined Lithuania’s support for the European emergency response system proposed by the European Commission. He also thanked the Commission for providing funding to strengthen Lithuania’s border protection and airspace surveillance.
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