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Parliamentary question - P-000985/2013Parliamentary question
P-000985/2013

Protection of the EU's external border with Belarus

Question for written answer P-000985-13
to the Commission
Rule 117
Justas Vincas Paleckis (S&D)

At the end of last year Belarusian President Lukashenko officially declared on at least two occasions (in October and December) that because of sanctions against his country Belarus would no longer prevent migrants from illegally crossing the EU’s borders. Furthermore, the Belarusian leader stated that the EU should pay for ensuring further border security, ‘forgetting’ the EU assistance allocated so far and still planned for this purpose. The competent Lithuanian institutions have not yet recorded any unusual and significant increase in the number of migrants. However, we cannot ignore these threatening statements because the situation can change in a very short period of time. It would also get worse because Belarus has not yet concluded a readmission treaty with the EU. Weak border security would also inevitably increase the scale of smuggling. Due to the insufficient number of Belarusian border guards there will continue to be huge queues of lorries and cars at the border.

1. Has the European Commission drawn attention to these statements by the Belarusian leader?

2. What steps has the European Commission taken or does it plan to take to strengthen the EU’s external border with Belarus in an emergency?

3. What financial, logistical or other aid can EU Member States neighbouring Belarus expect?

4. Has action been taken recently to convince Belarus to enter into negotiations on a readmission agreement?

OJ C 361 E, 11/12/2013