Lithuania ratifies treaty to join European Gendarmerie Force

Lithuania’s parliament on Thursday unanimously ratified the international treaty establishing the European Gendarmerie Force (EUROGENDFOR), making the country an official member of the organisation, LRT reports.

The vote passed with 103 lawmakers in favour, none opposed, and no abstentions. Ratification grants Lithuania’s Public Security Service (VST) the right to participate in EUROGENDFOR missions and operations focused on crisis management, peacekeeping, and stability restoration.

According to an explanatory note, membership will allow the VST to collaborate more closely with gendarmerie forces from other EU states, exchange expertise, and access specialised training, technologies, and resources offered by the organisation. This is expected to strengthen Lithuania’s domestic security capabilities.

“Joining the European Gendarmerie Force will not only bring recognition at the European level but also introduce innovations, methods, and training opportunities,” said Gintaras Aliksandravičius, deputy interior minister, during the proposal’s presentation in April. “This will undoubtedly add value to our internal security.”

The EUROGENDFOR was established in 2006 and formally founded in 2007 by Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands, and Portugal. Its current full members include France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Romania, and Poland. Lithuania had held partner status since 2009.

The force’s primary mission is to contribute to crisis management by ensuring public order and security when requested by the European Union, United Nations, NATO, or other international bodies. Lithuania’s formal accession documents were signed in December 2025 in Cascais, Portugal, by VST director Viktoras Grabauskas and Portuguese National Guard commander General Rui Alberto Ribeiro Veloso.