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“The use of migrants and refugees is completely unacceptable,” said EU Director of Diplomacy Josep Borrell. “The use of people in need for political purposes violates fundamental European values and principles.”
Lithuania has faced a significant increase in illegal immigration in recent months.
This year, more than 3,000 people crossed the border from Belarus into Lithuania. illegal immigrants, dozens of times more than last year.
Lithuania has declared an emergency situation due to the increase in illegal immigration. The country’s officials take the position that the increase in migratory flows is an organized action of the Minsk regime against Lithuania.
Borrell said the EU “would consider restrictive measures against those who smuggle migrants in violation of human rights or are involved in human trafficking.”
The Community and its members are determined to effectively manage migration flows by protecting the EU’s external borders, underlined the bloc’s head of diplomacy.
“People who do not have the right to stay in the EU must be returned,” he said. “In this context, the EU and its Member States will take all necessary measures in accordance with EU law and international law.”
Borrell also recalled that Brussels and the EU countries were already providing assistance to the Allies by sending forces from the border agency FRONTEX and other support. He added that the EU was ready to step up this aid.
Furthermore, the EU will continue its policy of addressing external migration, in particular with regard to the return of migrants, “including through dialogue and partnership with countries of origin and transit,” Borrell said.
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