EU Commissioner attacks Lithuanian politicians for turning immigration into election issue

European Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis
AP/Scanpix

In an interview with Andriukaitis on LRT, journalist Edmundas Jakilaitis pointed to some politicians in Lithuania, including Valentinas Mazuronis and Rolandas Paksas, who said that the current refugee quota system was dividing Europe. Jakilaitis also said there were proposals to renounce Lithuania‘s responsibilities entirely.

Vytenis Andriukaitis responded that: “It is bad when people turn such a sensitive topic into their election flag [issue]. I can assure you, I have been at the hottest spots like the island of Lesbos, I have seen refugees disembark and what the situation is. It is obvious that the war in Syria will continue and those people are just trying to survive. No one complains that economic migrants are already being sent back, sometimes by force. But is it really the case that a 500 million strong Europe cannot solve the problem of 800,000 refugees? This is ridiculous.

“Moreover, Lithuania has just opened the NordBalt and LitPol Link connectors. How much of EU taxpayers’ money was invested here? So when EU money is invested in infrastructure and opportunities, then everything is fine. Here Europe shows its solidarity. But whenever you need to share the burden together, so that it will not only be carried by Greece, Germany and Italy, then there is no solidarity. There are already electoral slogans sowing fear,” he said.

“It is leading to a situation where many European countries are starting to not understand Lithuania,” said Andriukaitis.

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