The European Commission has approved the allocation of €9.3 million EU funds from the Border Management and Visa Policy financial support measures for the “Improving the Electronic Border Monitoring System, Phase II” project of the State Border Guard Service, dependent on the Lithuanian Ministry of Interior.
The decision was made on October 25 in response to the project application from the Ministry. As part of the project’s implementation, the renovation will be carried out on the previously installed electronic monitoring systems at the Pavoverė and Švienčioni border checkpoints, covering an 84.4 km section, .
Currently, Lithuania’s border with Belarus is protected under a reinforced regime. The border of Belarus is 100 per cent monitored by modern border monitoring systems; a physical barrier was built on the border almost a year ago.
In September of this year, the Lithuanian authorities decided to extend the installation of physical barriers to marshy areas along the country’s borders with Belarus and Russia.
Installing physical barriers in these wet and swampy areas was considered essential to strengthen the country’s border protection efforts, as there has been a notable increase in irregular arrivals this year.
In this regard, Lithuanian Minister of Interior Agnė Bilotaitė revealed that about 700 migrants attempting to cross the border irregularly and enter Lithuania were intercepted in these marshy border regions.
The authorities have detected 13 smuggling cases in these areas since the beginning of the year. Explaining how the implementation of the project will flow, Ministry has also clarified that there will be no need for forest cutting, as the physical barrier will be installed within the border strip, minimising the impact on the surrounding environment.
Minister Bilotaitė emphasised that the authorities, in collaboration with environmental protection specialists, have already conducted assessments to gauge the potential effects of these physical barriers on the natural surroundings. She assured that the environmental impact will be minimal.
In addition to the plans for installing physical barriers in marshy areas along the Belarus and Russia borders, Lithuania also expressed its intention to reinstate coast border patrols. Minister Bilotaitė underscored the importance of closely guarding the border with Russia and the sea border.
According to her, Lithuania needs to remain prepared for any hybrid attacks or an increase in irregular migration, highlighting the country’s commitment to ensuring national security.
She also noted that the operational team will be deployed in the border section near the state border with Russia and Latvia, as well as in various other regions throughout the country.