Lithuanian government backs changes to adopt EU migration and asylum pact

Lithuania's cabinet has approved a package of amendments to transpose the European Union's Migration and Asylum Pact into national law, though the changes still require parliamentary approval.

The package, prepared by the Interior Ministry, would amend the Law on the Legal Status of Aliens and related legislation. Under the proposals, foreigners subject to EU-mandated screening, border or return procedures would be housed at designated screening sites without the right to move freely within Lithuania.

Screening would be conducted by the State Border Guard Service and the Reception and Integration Agency, with the interior minister and the minister of social security and labour responsible for defining procedures, including vulnerability assessments.

Following an individual assessment, a foreigner could be permitted to leave the site temporarily if the risk of absconding is considered manageable.

The amendments would also replace the terms "asylum" and "refugee" with standardised international protection terminology, update application and status titles accordingly, and clarify the status of family members.

A fundamental rights monitoring mechanism is also proposed, to be operated by a non-governmental organisation. The Seimas Ombudspersons' Office would prepare annual reports and handle complaints, while the Social Security and Labour Ministry, alongside international and non-governmental organisations, would oversee reception conditions.

The government would retain responsibility for decisions on solidarity measures, including the relocation of migrants or admission on humanitarian grounds. The deadline for security agencies to provide assessments of threats posed by individual foreigners would be extended from 28 to 42 days.

Lithuania has been allocated 73.9 million euros in EU funding to implement the pact, with the country covering 10% of costs itself. A contribution of 1.14 million euros to the EU solidarity mechanism is also planned before the start of 2027. Under that mechanism, Lithuania is expected to accept 58 migrants from Cyprus, with part of its obligations to be met through financial contributions.

More than 218,000 foreigners currently reside in Lithuania on valid permits.

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