Illegal migration took centre stage during talks between Latvia and Lithuania’s interior ministers this week as both countries seek to bolster their border defences.
Under an agreement signed between Lithuanian Minister Martynas Katelynas and Latvia’s Janis Dombrava, the two Baltic nations are expected to jointly strengthen operations combating illegal migrant smuggling networks.
This comes as Lithuania and Latvia deal with what they say are ongoing security challenges across their borders.
Immigration in Latvia and Lithuania
Latvia has either detained or turned away 7,855 migrants from Belarus so far this year, which is nine times more than what was recorded in Lithuania.
On the other hand, Lithuania has seen an increase in secondary migration from Latvia, with more than 1,200 migrants attempting to enter the country between January and June this year.
Western nations have accused Belarus of engineering the influx of migrants into eastern EU member states.
For common security
Katelynas called the new agreement an “important step” in boosting common security as well as cross-border co-operation between law enforcement agencies.
“At the same time, this agreement will contribute to a more effective fight against criminal organised migrant smuggling networks,” Katelynas was quoted as saying by The Baltic Times.
“Together we are making maximum efforts to prevent secondary migration, strengthen the protection of the European Union’s external borders and ensure the safety of our countries’ citizens,” he added.
Lithuania earlier announced it would send nine border guards to Latvia under its ongoing support mission, replacing border officials working there since July 1.
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Internal border controls?
As talks increasingly focus on illegal migration, the possibility of reinstating border controls between the two countries have been called into question, a move that presidents of both nations rejected.
In a state visit to Lithuania on Wednesday, Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics said the move could become a “disaster” as it will force officials to divert resources from external borders to monitor the internal border.
Rinkevics said attention should be paid more to existing control measures, including more efficient migrant returns.
He said Latvia was also prepared to help Lithuania secure its border.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda shared a similar view, saying that reinstating border controls with Latvia could mean a surrender to illegal migration.
He went on to say that this could even indicate a failure in protecting the European Union’s external frontier, and instead urged to heighten external border security.
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Europol on the lookout
Issues surrounding illegal migration networks have also been part of rising debates in EU nations.
Just this year, Europol unveiled its new European Centre Against Migrant Smuggling (ECAMS), which aims to help the EU combat migrant smuggling networks.
According to a press release, ECAMS will utilise intelligence, operational coordination and advanced analytics in a bid to break down criminal networks.
Executive director of Europol Catherine De Bolle shed light on the complex online and offline operations of these smuggling networks, noting their dependence on multi-layered financial infrastructures to move and hide criminal profits.
“It is essential that our action remains agile, underpinned by strong operational intelligence and close co-operation at a global level,” De Bolle said.
“With the establishment of the European Centre Against Migrant Smuggling, Europol is now stepping up its efforts — enhancing its capacity to support Member States and reinforcing the collective response to this complex and evolving threat.”
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