Lithuania Debates Accepting EU Migrant Quotas or Paying Fees

Lithuania is grappling with a dilemma over whether to accept around 158 migrants annually or pay 3.16 million euros in fees under the European Union's new migration reform package. The debate has sparked differing views among the country's political leaders.

Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė believes the choice between taking in migrants or paying fees is an "artificial" one, arguing that the proposed numbers are much lower than the influx Lithuania faced during the 2021 migration crisis when thousands of migrants crossed from Belarus. She warned that the narrow debate risks overshadowing the broader changes in the EU's approach to migration, including cases of migration instrumentalization by other countries.

However, not all officials are in agreement. Parliament Speaker Viktorija Čmilyte-Nielsen has spoken in favor of accepting the migrants, while President Gitanas Nausėda's chief economic and social policy advisor Irena Segalovičienė said the financial contribution would be more acceptable to the president. Interior Minister Agnė Bilotaitė stated that a commission will ultimately decide on Lithuania's course of action.

Why this matters: The debate in Lithuania reflects the ongoing challenges and divisions within the EU over how to handle migration. The outcome could set a precedent for how other countries respond to the EU's efforts to distribute the responsibility for asylum seekers more evenly among member states.

The proposed EU migration reform package, which still needs approval from the EU Council, aims to overhaul the bloc's asylum system. It would require member states to either accept a share of migrants or make a financial contribution to other countries that take them in. Prime Minister Šimonytė emphasized that while Lithuania expects understanding from EU partners on issues like migration instrumentalization, those countries also expect solidarity from Lithuania in accepting some migrants.

Key Takeaways

• Lithuania faces choice: accept 158 migrants/pay €3.16M EU migration fees
• PM Šimonytė calls choice "artificial", warns against overlooking broader changes
• Parliament Speaker, President's advisor have differing views on accepting migrants
• Debate reflects EU's ongoing challenges in distributing asylum seeker responsibility
• Proposed EU reform aims to require member states to accept migrants or pay fees