Migration flows cannot be used as a means of blackmail by third countries for political purposes was the message conveyed by the Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs, Miltiadis Varvitsiotis, during the meeting with his Lithuanian counterpart Deputy Foreign Minister for European Affairs, Mr. Arnoldas Pranckevicius, today, July 7, last day of his tour in the Baltic countries.
On the occasion of the growing flows of irregular migrants to Lithuania, Mr. Varvitsiotis underscored the need to establish an integrated European policy to address the common migration challenge, based on solidarity and the protection of the EU’s external borders.
During the meeting, Mr. Varvitsiotis had the opportunity to discuss with his counterpart the regional challenges the two countries are facing. The Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs did not fail to reiterate the explicit and firm condemnation by Greece of the piracy on the Ryanair aircraft flying from Athens to Vilnius. Prominent on the agenda of the discussion between the two counterparts were issues of purely European concern, such as the national recovery and resilience plans and the EU Digital COVID Certificate.
During his meeting with the Minister of the Interior, Ms. Bilotaitė and the Vice-Minister of the Interior, Mr. Abramavicius, that followed, Mr. Varvitsiotis had the opportunity to convey the firm support of the Greek Government and the Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to Lithuania in its effort to address the migrant crisis, by providing all possible means and know-how.
The Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs held these meetings in parallel with his participation, representing Greece, in the 4th Ukraine Reform Conference held in Vilnius (7-8 July 2021).