The prime ministers of Lithuania, Latvia and Poland have signed a joint declaration on strengthening cooperation in the area of external border security and countering hybrid threats.
The heads of government stressed that the countries take into account the complex and rapidly changing security situation, as well as ongoing hybrid attacks by Russia and Belarus against states in the region and the European Union, including through the use of sections of the EU’s external border.
The parties said they intend to enhance interaction to ensure border security and more effectively prevent and suppress illegal and instrumentalised migration, the smuggling of people and goods, as well as other forms of organised crime. Cooperation will be developed within the framework of existing bilateral agreements and European Union mechanisms and will cover land, sea and air borders.
A separate section of the declaration is devoted to coordination mechanisms. The leaders agreed to strengthen trilateral contacts at the level of national security advisers to the prime ministers, as well as to establish special channels for cooperation and information exchange, including the use of early warning mechanisms.
The document also provides for joint action in response to hybrid threats. In particular, the countries intend to exchange information and analysis on hybrid attacks by Russia and Belarus and measures to prevent them, implement joint projects, exercises and initiatives to enhance resilience and preparedness, and coordinate the identification of the perpetrators of such actions, their methods and objectives.
Oversight of the implementation of the declaration has been entrusted to the competent authorities and designated contact persons of the three countries. They will monitor the fulfilment of the agreements, develop action plans if necessary, and regularly assess progress with the possibility of adjustments.