Strengthening the State border security

The audit assessed:

• whether the entire EU external border in the Lithuanian part of the EU is monitored using modern border surveillance systems;
• whether the equipment of the State Border Guard Service is up to standard;
• whether the procedures chosen have contributed to a faster construction of the physical barrier at the border with the Republic of Belarus.

The National Audit Office carried out an audit "Strengthening State Border Security", which assessed the implementation of surveillance systems in Lithuania at the external border of the European Union (EU), the installation of a physical barrier at the border with the Republic of Belarus, and the provision of the State Border Guard Service's (SBGS) officers with the necessary equipment in accordance with the approved standards.

"The entire EU external border in Lithuania is monitored using modern border surveillance technologies. When Lithuania faced an influx of irregular migrants, steps were taken to complete the installation of all surveillance systems as soon as possible and to build a physical barrier on the border with Belarus. We have assessed not only the installation of physical border security measures, but also the provision of equipment for SBGS officers. The quality of border security depends on the quality of the equipment and the readiness of the officers", said Mindaugas Macijauskas, Auditor General.

The audit results show that from 2023, the entire EU external border in Lithuania will be monitored by modern border surveillance systems, but it is now necessary to plan for their renewal to avoid risks of inadequate border monitoring in the future. All 25 surveillance systems should be upgraded by 2030, while 19 surveillance systems have not yet been scheduled for upgrade.

The auditors found that the physical barrier at the border sections with the highest migration flows (Phase I of the project) was installed as a matter of extreme urgency 3 months earlier than at the remaining sections (Phase II of the project).

The State Border Guard Service is one of the institutions strengthening and safeguarding national security, and the audit also assessed whether the officers of the Service are provided with the means to act in times of emergency, mobilisation and martial law in accordance with the established standards. It also examined whether they have all the necessary equipment to carry out their functions and to ensure their security in their daily activities. Although this part of the audit is not made public, its results have been made available to decision-makers.

Recommendations on strengthening state border security were made to the audited entities - the Ministry of the Interior and the State Border Guard Service.