Poland's and Lithuania's response to the migration crisis at the border with Belarus– a comparative attempt

Abstract

The aim of this publication is to illustrate the responses of Lithuania and Poland to the migration crisis at the Belarusian border, which began in mid-2021. Both countries are members of the European Union and the Schengen Area. In a situation of threat to internal security, they prioritised securing their national borders, which are also the eastern flank of the European Union, over the protection of human rights or humanitarian issues. The publication shows similarities and differences in the reaction to the Belarus regime's actions on the part of the Polish and Lithuanian authorities. Particular attention was paid to the analysis of the rationale for introducing the state of emergency and the admissibility of limiting human rights and freedoms.