Lithuania debates migrants vs. solidarity payment under EU pact

The Lithuanian government is currently debating whether to accept several dozens of migrants or pay a so-called solidarity contribution to Brussels exceeding €3 million as dictated under the new European Union migration pact.

The Baltic state plans to reach a decision on the fate of at least 158 migrants by the end of this year, before the pact comes into effect, Caliber.Az report citing Lithuania's LRT. 

Opposition lawmakers urge the government to make a decision sooner so the necessary preparations for the integration of those migrants can be underdone, or alternatively, allocate the EU contribution into the state budget.

On 14 May 2024, the European Council formally approved new legislation reforming the EU’s asylum and migration system, designed in part to more evenly share the responsibility for asylum seekers among Member States.

The new regulation will replace the existing “Dublin system,” which assigns responsibility for processing asylum applications to the country where the migrant first enters the EU. Under that system, southern border states such as Italy, Spain, and Greece have faced a disproportionately high number of asylum cases and housing needs compared to central and northern states, including those in the Baltics.

Under the new distribution system, known as the "Solidarity Mechanism", Lithuania would receive 158 migrants from southern countries.

The EU would allocate up to €10,000 for each relocated person, but member states can opt out of this option by paying the solidarity contribution. For Lithuania, this would amount to more than €3 million.

“Lithuania may decide to accept refugees, pay the money, or combine the two options,” said MP Laurynas Shedvidas, chairman of the parliamentary Human Rights Committee.

Acting Interior Minister Vladislav Kondratovich highlights that the number of migrants is small compared to the roughly 20,000 foreign workers who come to Lithuania for jobs each year. At the same time, the article notes that he does acknowledge the sensitive nature of this matter.

By Nazrin Sadigova