26
Aug 2025
Lithuania faces a deadline. Under the European Union (EU) Migration Pact, it must either take in 158 asylum seekers or transfer more than €3 million to a solidarity fund.
The government has promised a decision this year, but the debate already runs deep.
EU pact sets new rules
The Migration and Asylum Pact, adopted in 2024, created a permanent solidarity system. Every EU member must help share the pressure of migration by either relocating people, paying financial contributions, or offering operational support.
For Lithuania, the quota is 158 people. They would likely come from southern Europe, where arrivals by sea continue to climb. If the country refuses, the alternative is a payment that tops €3 million.
Lithuania’s current capacity
Refugee reception centers now hold about 450 people, most of them from Ukraine. Officials said that there is room for nearly twice that number.
Gediminas Pocius, head of the Reception and Integration Agency, stressed that most migrants stay only a month before moving on, though Ukrainians remain longer. He argued that integrating 158 people “would not be a major challenge” for Lithuania.
Still, he noted the lack of a structured Lithuanian-language program as the biggest gap in support.
Divisions in parliament
Lawmakers disagreed on the path forward. Human Rights Committee chair Laurynas Šedvydis said that the state could split its contribution—take some asylum seekers and pay part of the fee.
Acting Interior Minister Vladislav Kondratovič minimized the scale, pointing out that the number is small compared with the 20,000 foreign workers who arrive in Lithuania each year.
Former interior minister Agnė Bilotaitė urged caution. “I would be more inclined to choose the financial option for Lithuania, taking into account potential risks and the possibility of unsuccessful integration,” she said.
(Image courtesy of rarrarorro via iStock)
Wider European context
In the first quarter of 2025 alone, nearly 200,000 people applied for asylum in the EU. Southern states continue to call for fairer distribution, warning that they cannot handle the arrivals on their own.
Šedvydis reminded colleagues that Lithuania may one day be the one asking for help. “Lithuania is minutes away from another refugee crisis,” he said.
Travelers to meet new checks
The Lithuanian debate may seem far from tourism, but it fits into a wider pattern of stricter entry rules. Short-stay visitors will soon need a European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) travel authorization, starting in late 2026.
The system will apply to citizens of 59 countries who currently travel visa-free, including Americans, Canadians, and Australians.
ETIAS will link to a passport and remain valid for three years or until that passport expires. It covers stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period, but border officers will continue to decide who may enter.
The requirement means an extra step for tourists, business travelers, and students who plan short visits.
Migrants face a separate reality. The EU pact and Lithuania’s decision on asylum quotas highlight that governments are pairing new travel requirements with tighter migration management.
Visitors may notice little overlap, but both trends show the Union closing gaps between border security and movement across Schengen.
Adapting policies under EU pressure
The pact forces EU members to take a clearer stand. Instead of treating asylum as a national issue, states must now choose whether to host people, pay into a fund, or provide operational help.
Lithuania’s case shows how this new system works in practice.
Southern states argued that the rules would ease the strain of Mediterranean arrivals. For others, especially in Central and Eastern Europe, the quotas test how far they are willing to go in accepting migrants.
Political disagreements are likely to continue, but national policies will now operate under a common EU framework.
For smaller states such as Lithuania, the choice between hosting 158 asylum seekers or paying over €3 million is not only about numbers. It sets a precedent for how national migration policy aligns with European law, shaping how governments prepare for future crises.
(Image courtesy of Angel Bena via Pexels)
Lithuania’s next move
Lithuania must decide whether to accept the refugees or pay the fine under the EU migration pact. The choice is less about numbers and more about how the country positions itself within Europe’s shared migration policy.
The outcome will show whether Lithuania is prepared to share responsibility with its neighbors or prefers a financial contribution instead.