Migration

A rally organized in Vilnius this Saturday called for solidarity with refugees from war-stricken zones in the Middle East, while a similarly-sized counter-rally voiced concerns about a "clash of cultures" and security.

Lithuanian carriers are being hit by significant losses caused by migrants trying to get to the UK on trucks illegally, with Lithuanian drivers calling the situation in Calais a war zone, reports LRT.

Lithuanian migration to the United Kingdom will not be affected by benefit cuts recently agreed on by British and EU leaders, says social policy expert Romas Lazutka.

Lithuanian border police arrested an illegal immigrant from Iraq and a Finnish citizen allegedly trying to smuggle him through Lithuania on Friday.

The Lithuanian community in Great Britain have more concerns about the possibility of the country leaving the European Union than proposals to cut benefits for EU migrants.

The European Union's response to Greece's requests for refugee relocation has been disappointing so far, Greek Ambassador to Lithuania Iraklis Asteriadis says.

The number of Lithuanians concerned about illegal migration has rocketed in the last year, with 19% of Lithuanians choosing illegal migration as the most important public security issue, according to a new survey.

Over the last year, Lithuania's population has shrunk by 33,000 people, Statistics Lithuania says. It is the size of a mid-sized town.

The dropping value of the currencies of Russia and Belarus has forced some migrant workers from these countries to make their way to Lithuania, mostly illegally, the State Border Guard Service says.

The lawsuit against the Lithuanian state by a migrant family from Iraq who arrived in Lithuania last December under the European Union's refugee resettlement programme will help clarify refugee handling procedures, according to legal experts.

The Lithuanian population has lost 1.1% or 32,700 people over the last year, preliminary estimates from Statistics Lithuania suggest. The primary reason for the negative growth is emigration.

Many immigrants to Lithuania are happy with their lives here and are not planning to move back to their homelands. A number of immigrants shared their stories on LRT programme Ryto garsai (morning sounds).

Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė says that the recent introduction of temporary border checks in Sweden is the outcome of failing to control the European Union's external borders.

Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė says that, despite all measures taken by the European Union (EU) and its member-states to manage the migrant and refugee flows, the migration crisis in Europe is only worsening.

The survey of members of the American Chamber of Commerce has shown that 58.4 percent of the respondents from major United States companies operating in Lithuania are unhappy with the current migration system in the country and regard it as poor or very poor.

Refugee integration centres will be opened in Lithuania's largest cities of Vilnius, Kaunas and Klaipėda, the Ministry of Welfare and Labour said.

Vengrijos policininkų su šalmais eilė užblokavo pagrindinį neoficialų sienos perėjimo punktą, kuriuo naudojosi iš Serbijos į Vengriją vykstantys migrantai, praneša vienas „ Reuters “ reporteris.

As thousands of refugees fleeing wars in the Middle East and Africa arrive in Europe, Lithuania, too, is going to accept more asylum seekers than previously planned. Some employers in the country say they will welcome new potential employees.

Lithuania will accept 325 refugees over the next two years, the country's President Dalia Grybauskaitė said on Monday.

Lithuania will accept 85 refugees from third countries, says Vice-Minister of the Interior Elvinas Jankevičius. EU interior minister are also scheduled to hold talks on the relocation of migrants from Greece and Italy on July 20.