Diversity Development Group would like to invite you to the regional seminar – “Responses to the influx of the irregular migration across the border of Belarus: challenges and lessons learnt”. The event is organized in the framework of National Integration Evaluation Mechanism (NIEM) project which monitors and measures refugee integration policies in 14 EU Member States.

The aim of the seminar is to present comparative analysis of Latvian and Lithuanian Governments responses to the influx of the irregular migration across the border of Belarus. In 2021 the illegitimate president of Belarus A. Lukashenko threatened to flood Europe with migrants after new EU targeted economic sanctions. He has signed the decree allowing citizens of 73 countries to come without visas and stay in Belarus for up to five days supposedly to get COVID-19 vaccine shots. The irregular migration into countries neighboring Belarus started to grow in June 2021. In July responding to the rapid increase of undocumented migrants Governments of Latvia and Lithuania declared the extraordinary situation and took other measures to control the situation. Analysis of the Governments responses and taken measures will be presented and discussed in this seminar. Additionally, insights about reactions of Polish government will be provided by representative of the Institute of Public Affairs, Poland and overall analysis of 14 EU Member states long-term refugee integration policy frameworks will be presented by representative of the Migration Policy Group, Belgium. Please see below the detailed agenda of the seminar.

Where? Face-to-face in “ibis Vilnius Centre” hotel (Rinktines str. 18, LT-09322 Vilnius) and online

When? May 13, 2022 | from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. (Vilnius time)

The seminar will be held in English.

Please register by the afternoon of May 12, 2022 via this link here and let us know whether you will attend an online or face-to-face event. For those willing to participate online we will send the information and meeting link on the day before the event.

The seminar agenda can be accessed: here

For additional information please contact:

Giedre Blazyte | giedre@diversitygroup.lt

Jurga Mataityte-Dirziene | jurga@diversitygroup.lt