The strengthening of security at the territory of Lithuanian-Polish border

Summary

Project acronym: SBGS-23

Project ID: LTPL00002

Project start date: 2024-02-01

Project end date: 2026-01-31

Project status: ongoing

Relevant linked projects:

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 999 911.12

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 799 928.89

Total EU funding (co-financing rate): 80.00%

Co-financing sources:

• ERDF: Amount, EUR 799 928.89. Co-financing rate, 80.00%.

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

(bullets are inserted automatically and may be incorrectly placed)

Deliverables:

• Analysis and recommendation
• Joint actions
• Publicity measures prepared
• Proposal for interaction
• Number of jointly developed training programme
• Participations in joint training schemes
• Number of specialized equipment

Contribution to wider strategies and policies:

• EUStrategyBalticSeaRegion Project will contribute directly to EUBSR objective “Connect the region“ sub-objective ”Better cooperation in fighting cross-border crime“ action (2021) Action 2: Strengthening mechanisms for joint strategic and operational actions protecting human beings and societies from criminal threats“. Project addresses common challenges faced by Lithuania and Poland within cross-border region which have been coursed by global issues such as COVID19 pandemic, illegal migration, aggressive war situation between Ukraine and Russia. Many problems have arisen that reduce security in the region, such as increase in crime, the presence of a large number of enemy-sponsored subversive groups, the identification and apprehension of which is carried out by the public security authorities and the cooperation in this direction is vital. The border area is known as the Suwalki Gap, the territory between Russian Kaliningrad Oblast and Belarus, which will be used by soldiers and citizens fleeing war which is identified as the most insecure area by military experts. Border Guard Services in both countries play an important role in ensuring the integrity of the state border of the Republic of Lithuania and the Republic of Poland and implementing the state border protection policy in accordance with national and international legislation. Project aims to enhance the public security in LT-PL cross-border region by increasing interaction between Border Guard Services and other institutions in the Programme area as well as to strengthen the capacities of project partners to govern joint actions in case of geopolitical threats. Only in a secure environment can the functioning of a mature democratic constitutional order, sustainable economic development, the protection of human rights and freedoms, and the vitality of civil society be guaranteed. Strengthening national security is considered to be the highest objective of the domestic and foreign policy of Lithuania and Poland.
• Other "A strategy towards a fully functioning and resilient Schengen area", updated by EC on 2021. Project directly contribute to aim of this strategy to reinforce the Schengen area internally implementation, as close cooperation between Member States on preventing and fighting security threats is crucial to sustain and compensate for the absence of controls at internal borders. Project contribute to the next aim of this strategy - improving governance to promote trust between Member States and better crisis preparedness. The free flow of people, goods and services is at the heart of the European Union and is key for Europe's recovery following the coronavirus crisis and illegal migrants flows. With today's Strategy, the Commission takes stock of the challenges faced by the Schengen area in recent years, and sets out a path forward that maintains the benefits of Schengen. Common action is needed at Union level for Member States to cope with today's challenges. Closer cooperation and interaction of Lithuania and Poland Border Guard Services within the project will directly enhance institutional capacities to tackle the issues which has negative impact on security of EU citizens and their right for free flow within Lithuania and Poland cross-border region which meets the global issues such as COVID19 pandemic, illegal migration, aggressive war situation between Ukraine and Russia. The cooperation of the public security authorities in this direction is vital. Project aims to enhance preparation for joint management of geopolitical threats and crisis management in cross-border region.
• Other COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS on the EU Security Union Strategy, COM (2020). Globalization and crisis determined complicity of security threats over the Europe. Citizens cannot be protected only through Member States acting on their own. Building on our strengths to work together has never been more essential. Significant legal, practical and support tools are already in place, but need to be both strengthened and better implemented. Much progress has been made to improve the exchange of information and intelligence cooperation with Member States and to close down the space in which terrorists and criminals operate. But fragmentation remains. this new strategy shows that a genuine and effective Security Union needs to combine a strong core of instruments and policies to deliver security in practice with a recognition that security has implications for all parts of society and all public policies. The EU needs to ensure a secure environment for everyone, whatever their racial or ethnic origin, religion, belief, gender, age or sexual orientation. The project contributes to the priority “A strong European security ecosystem” and one of key actions “Cooperation and information exchange”. During the project partners will test the agreement of exchange the information. The new common radio channel will be created for exchange the information by radio connection terminals which will be purchased. New and safe software for reading open source data, location data mobile phones, web content will help to reduce cybercrime, protect private data, to fight with organized crime, accelerate investigations etc. Capacities in management of joint operations in geopolitical threats will enhance effectiveness of protection of EU citizens in LT and PL cross-border region.
• Other The project will contribute to implementation of bilateral agreement between Governments of the Republic of Lithuania and the Republic of Poland, signed on 14/3/2006. The project will increase the effectiveness of activity of Lithuanian and Polish Border Guard Services in the area of public Security because of strengthened institutional capacities related on management of joint actions in case of geopolitical threats and crisis situations, control illegal migration, transportation of goods and people, prevention of international criminality and investigation. The project will lead to synergy of partners institutions tools and measures for the same aim - public security. The project will enhance interaction of partners on optimization of human resources and equipment within controlling the mane and local roads along the internal border. The assessment of establishment of LTU-POL Frontier Station will allow to take common and new solutions at political and institutional level. The assessment for improving of communication with the society and other institutions in the border region will enhance trust and respect between Border Guard Services and community where they act. The partnership will allow manage new challenges, joint development of solutions and common implementation will lead to efficiency of partners and benefits to general society as well as socio-economic partners in the reagion.

Programme Common Output Indicator:

• RCO 085 - Participations in joint training schemes, Measurement unit:
  
• RCO 087 - Organisations cooperating across borders, Measurement unit:
  

Programme Common Result Indicator:

• RCR 084 - Organisations cooperating across borders after project completion, Measurement unit:
  
• RCR 081 - Completions of joint training schemes, Measurement unit:
  

Project part of European Union Macro-Regional or Sea Basin Strategy: EUSBSR

EUSBSR Priority (Policy) area / Horizontal action:

EUSBSR Degree of compliance: