VILNIUS – Lithuania's government on Monday decided to change the existing rules for the accommodation of refugees in the country so that European funds could be used to improve their living conditions.
The Interior Ministry, which proposed the changes, says now a "fixed basket" is allocated for the accommodation of refugees and there've been no possibility so far to increase it using non-budgetary funds, for example, EU funds.
Under the new rules, funds from international organizations, EU funds and funds from non-governmental organization could be used to cover costs exceeding certain set levels. The changes will allow increasing the "financial basket" using additions funds from the EU's Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, the Interior Ministry says.
Lithuania has committed to accept 1,077 refugees from EU and third countries. Over the three years since the agreement came into force, 490 people were relocated to Lithuania but the majority of them later left for richer EU member states.
The Lithuanian government has extended the relocation agreement until the end of June, 2021.
2024 © The Baltic Times /Cookies Policy Privacy Policy