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Opinion

Opinion: The refugee crisis will define Europe’s future

While the refugee and migrant crisis is an existential problem for Europe, it is also a huge opportunity. The way it is handled will critically impact not only the future direction of Europe, but also its identity – the European ethos – economics, demographics and indeed (don’t be scared!) culture. Encapsulated in the current drama is an opportunity, which only few leaders and very few countries see as they are overwhelmed by the immediate tasks. If handled right, Europe will come out stronger. […]

Asta Borusevičiūtė
Global LT

Lithuanian in Germany: I almost feel guilty for not doing more for refugees

Asta Borusevičiūtė from Lithuania has been living in Hamburg, Germany, for five years and has been very emotionally involved, along with the entire country, in the ongoing refugee crisis. “I live on this subject. In my circles, everyone’s doing something for them [refugees]. I almost feel guilty for not finding time to help out,” the young woman tells DELFI, adding that she plans to volunteer at a charity processing office. […]

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Opinion

Opinion: Not human enough to be saved

It is a wrenching image. And it is an image that now speaks as the symbol for the refugee crisis shaming all of Europe. The tiny corpse of Aylan Kurdi, the three-year-old Kurdish boy from the besieged Syrian city of Kobane, washed up on a Turkish shore like so much refuse. He had escaped ISIL, but he could not escape the wrath of the sea. […]

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Politics

Lithuanian government says it is up to the task of handling refugees

Lithuania is about to handle more asylum seekers than ever before, but the government says the country is ready for the challenge. Foreign Minister Linas Linkevičius and Interior Minister Saulius Skvernelis tell LRT.lt that, contrary to criticism about the government’s inaction, Lithuania is actively preparing to do its share in dealing with what is said to be the biggest refugee crisis since 1945. […]

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Politics

First refugees could reach Lithuania this year, deputy minister says

Lithuania’s Deputy Interior Minister Elvinas Jankevičius says that the first group of refugees could arrive in Lithuania as soon as in late 2015 or January 2016. […]

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Society

Group wants to stage rally against ‘enforced immigration’ in Vilnius

A group has asked Vilnius Municipality for permission to stage a rally outside the Representation of the European Commission on 20 September to protest refugee relocation to Lithuania. If authorised, the rally would be attended by up to 100 people. The organisers claim that people are not given enough information about the countries in conflict, that the terms “refugee” and “economic migrant” must be explained in order to reassure people. […]

Algirdas Butkevičius
European Union

Lithuanian PM calls German minister’s statements about cutting EU aid ‘unacceptable blackmail’

Lithuania’s top officials have different opinions on Germany’s recent warnings about possible cuts in EU aid for member states that disagree with mandatory refugee quotas. […]

European Union

Lithuania to join opposition to mandatory migrant quotas at EU talks

Lithuania and other Central and Eastern European countries plan to resist the introduction of a permanent mandatory migrant quota system as EU interior ministers are meeting in Brussels on Monday. […]