EU Says Sanctions an Option to Tackle Belarus People Smugglers

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell makes a statement at the European Council building in Brussels on May 6, 2021. John Thys/Pool via AP

BRUSSELS—The European Union will consider sanctions against people smugglers and those involved in human trafficking to address a surge in “irregular” border crossings from Belarus, the bloc’s top diplomat on Friday said.

Lithuania, an EU member state, has reported an uptick in illegal border crossings from neighboring Belarus and accused Minsk of flying in migrants from abroad and sending them over the border.