EU – Baltic States, Legislation, Lithuania, Society, Transport

Refugees flock to countries of Southern Europe via the Mediterranean Sea because of instability in North Africa, the Sahel region and in the Middle East. More than 1.5 thousand of them drowned this year trying to reach Europe. Last week alone over 800 people drowned after a ship carrying illegal migrants sank.

Grybauskaite says that the Mediterranean Sea might even be called a graveyard due to the high number of deaths. She has emphasised that it is necessary to review the reasons that force people to choose uncertainty at sea instead of life in their countries. According to the head of state, there is technical and personnel shortage for search and rescue operations at sea, and Lithuania is ready to join the initiatives.

Grybauskaite told the national radio before leaving for Brussels, that Lithuania is ready to send its experts to operations in the Mediterranean.

As reported, an extraordinary meeting of the European Council was summoned due to the surge of illegal migration from North Africa and the reoccurring tragedies at sea. Heads of the European Union Member States and other countries will consider a 10 point plan prepared by the European Commission to overcome the crisis.