On October 25, a decision was reached in response to the Ministry's project application. EU Helpers states that as part of the project's implementation, the previously installed electronic monitoring systems at the Pavoverė and Švienčioni border checkpoints—which span an 84.4 km section—will undergo renovations.
The Lithuanian government made the decision in September of this year to expand the construction of physical barriers to wetlands near its borders with Belarus and Russia.
Since there has been a noticeable rise in unauthorized immigration this year, it was thought that strengthening border control measures nationwide would require the installation of physical barriers in these soggy and marshy areas.
According to Lithuania's Minister of Interior, Agnė Bilotaitė, over 700 migrants were stopped in these swampy border areas while trying to enter Lithuania illegally.
Since the year's beginning, the authorities have discovered 13 instances of smuggling in these regions. The Ministry has explained the project's implementation process and made it clear that no forests will need to be cut down because the physical barrier will be placed inside the border strip, minimizing its negative environmental effects.
Minister Bilotaitė emphasized that evaluations have already been carried out by the authorities and environmental protection experts to determine the possible impact of these physical obstacles on the surrounding environment. She promised that there would be little effect on the environment.
Lithuania stated that it intended to bring back coast border police in addition to erecting physical barriers in marshy areas along the borders with Belarus and Russia. The significance of closely monitoring the borders with Russia and the sea border was emphasized by Minister Bilotaitė.
Her assertion that Lithuania must continue to be ready for any hybrid assaults or a rise in unauthorized immigration highlights the nation's dedication to maintaining national security.
She added that the operative team will be stationed in a number of different areas across the nation, including the border portion close to the state borders with Latvia and Russia.