Lithuania and Cyprus agree on relocation of 58 migrants under EU Migration Pact

Lithuania and Cyprus have signed a bilateral memorandum on implementing the solidarity mechanism for the relocation of 58 migrants to Lithuania, with the remaining obligations to be covered by a financial contribution, the Lithuanian Migration Department announced on Friday.

The memorandum between the Migration Department and Cyprus’ Ministry of Migration and International Protection was signed during an informal meeting of EU ministers. According to the department, the agreement will help Lithuania smoothly implement the EU Migration and Asylum Pact and its solidarity mechanism.

This mechanism allows member states to either relocate a set number of foreigners from countries facing migrant influxes or pay a fixed financial contribution. Last December, the Lithuanian government decided to accept half of the migrants and pay for the other half.

Under the memorandum, Cyprus will ensure registration, document preparation, medical checks, translation services, and general information provision for the relocated individuals. Lithuania will cover the remaining obligations with a financial contribution of €1.14 million.

Indrė Gasperė, head of the Migration Department, stated that Lithuania supports the idea of the Migration and Asylum Pact in principle, believing it will strengthen EU unity, responsibility, and a culture of solidarity. “The recently signed agreement with Cyprus is a clear signal that we are constructive partners, ready to contribute to joint EU solutions,” she said.

Lithuania is prepared to continue constructive cooperation with all member states and EU institutions to ensure the Migration and Asylum Pact works effectively, providing faster procedures at external borders and more efficient returns.

The solidarity mechanism obliges EU members to share the burden of migrants with frontline states. Due to the migration organised by the Minsk regime from Belarus since 2021, Lithuania has applied a policy of pushing back migrants, which the Seimas legalised in 2023.