immigration crisis

A Syrian couple relocated to Lithuania under the EU's refugee relocation program have been granted refugee status.

With Slovenia, Macedonia and Croatia all banning migrants from transiting through their territory, refugees and immigrants may try to come through the eastern border of Lithuania as they seek other routes into the European Union, according to the Lithuanian Interior Minister.

As the European Union blocks the flow of illegal immigrants from Libya to Italy and negotiates similar agreements in Turkey and Greece, some fear that migrants may try a new approach towards entering the European Union that would take them through Russia and potentially the Baltic states.

European Council President Donald Tusk's statements that the days of illegal immigration to Europe were over was a very bold claim according to political scientist Vytis Jurkonis.

Europe's immigrant crisis has affected Lithuanian freight companies, forcing them to take safety measures and make additional investments to prevent migrants from boarding their trucks, the business daily Verslo Žinios reported on Thursday.