MigrationNews

A Project to Strengthen Border Security Between Lithuania and Belarus, Funded by the VSF Fund, has Started

The official opening ceremony of the project HOME / 2020 / ISFB / AG / EMAS / 0142 “Urgent strengthening of border security at the external border of the European Union with the Republic of Belarus” was held in Druskininkai last Friday.

The Deputy Minister of the Interior Kęstutis Lančinskas, the Commander of the State Border Guard Service (SBGS) General Rustamas Liubajevas, his deputies, the Deputy Commissioner General of the Police Saulius Tamulevičius, representatives of the Lithuanian Armed Forces and other guests took part in it. Stephanie Hardy, from the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs, interacted remotely with the guests and wished the project a successful conclusion.

The European Commission approved the implementation and financing of this project in December last year. EUR 14,990,920 is earmarked for strengthening the protection of the European Union’s (EU) external border with Belarus from the Internal Security Fund (ISS). 10% is planned for the implementation of the project. SBGS contribution – 1 665 65 Eur.

The aim of the project is to address the current issues and problems related to the organized influx of migrants in Belarus, to manage the flows of illegal migration and to properly ensure the protection of the EU external border and the control of third-country nationals entering the territory of Lithuania.

Acquisitions and upgrades of technical equipment are planned to achieve this goal. These are ground and helicopter-mounted border surveillance equipment to facilitate the detection of illegal migrants, additional official vehicles for the transport of persons and equipment to ensure the catering of foreigners temporarily accommodated in Lithuania.

The project is scheduled to be completed by September 30 this year. The completion of all planned measures and the implementation of the planned activities will ensure effective protection of the EU’s external borders and proper control of illegal migration.

Lithuania is responsible for almost 1.1 thousand. kilometers of the EU’s external border, of which 679 kilometers are with Belarus.