Poland - Justice and Home Affairs

Short-term priorities:

• To develop more effective border management and control systems, in particular of the borders of Belarus and Ukraine;
• Visa regimes.

Assessment (October 1999)

Implementation of priority measures in this area advanced very little.

Poland made progress by adopting the law on aliens, but further efforts were needed to adjust its legislation on visas and immigration. It was also required to increase technical and financial resources to strengthen the administrative aspect of border management. Control of the Eastern border still presented major problems with regard both to staff and to installation and equipment.

Assessment (November 2000)

A national border management strategy was adopted. Coordination between law enforcement services improved. There was little progress in upgrading institutional capacity to fight organised crime and drug trafficking or in implementing an anti-corruption and anti-fraud programme.

Assessment (November 2001)

Poland has adopted an interinstitutional border management strategy. Progress has been made in combating organised crime and drug trafficking. With regard to efforts to combat fraud and corruption, Poland has ratified all the relevant conventions. However, further efforts are necessary.

Assessment (October 2002)

Efforts are being made to modernise equipment at the border inspection posts. Progress has also been made at the green and blue border, and in particular at the future external border of the European Union. However, these efforts are not sufficient. More progress is needed in the field of the allocation of budgetary resources and adequate administrative provisions. The decision to complete the alignment with the common visa policy will enter

into force in July 2003.

Assessment (November 2003)

Please refer to the fact sheets on the adoption of the Community acquis.

Medium-term priorities:

• to implement a new asylum system and to fight organised crime and corruption;
• to implement a reform of the legislation on aliens, notably in view of the Schengen acquis.

Assessment (October 1999)

The adoption of the law on aliens was undoubtedly a very important step towards to achievement of a legislative framework relating to procedures. However, the various services responsible for the fight against crime (police, border guards, immigration and customs) had to be coordinated. Specific measures were adopted, in particular relating to the introduction of the witness protection scheme, which was consistent with the practice in force in the European Union. These measures were beginning to bear fruit.

Assessment (November 2000)

Some progress was made with regard to the administrative capacity of the judiciary. Border controls improved, but efforts needed to be intensified along the future borders of the Union.

Assessment (November 2001)

Progress has been made in boosting the administrative capacity of the judiciary and in border controls. Rapid progress has been made in bringing Polish law into line with EU asylum and immigration law. The struggle against organised crime and police cooperation with Europol must continue to be priorities for Poland. Overall, the Commission is satisfied with the progress made.

Assessment (October 2002)

Measures have been taken to adopt and implement a strategy to combat organised crime.

Measures have been taken to improve internal cooperation within the police and with other bodies. However, other measures are necessary to increase the capacity to combat organised crime.

Assessment (November 2003)

Please refer to the fact sheets on the adoption of the Community acquis.

Following the signing of the Accession Treaty on 16 April 2003, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia acceded to the European Union on 1 May 2004.

REFERENCES

Council Decision 98/260/EC of 30.03.1998

Official Journal L 121 of 23.04.1998

Commission Opinion COM(97) 2002 final

Not published in the Official Journal

Commission Report COM(98) 701 final

Not published in the Official Journal

Commission Report COM(1999) 509 final

Not published in the Official Journal

Commission Report COM(2000) 709 final

Not published in the Official Journal

Commission Report COM(2001) 700 final - SEC(2001) 1752

Not published in the Official Journal

Commission Report COM(2002) 700 final - SEC(2002) 1408

Not published in the Official Journal

Commission Report COM(2003) 675 final - SEC(2003) 1207

Not published in the Official Journal

Treaty of Accession to the European Union [Official Journal L 236, 23.09.2003]

Last updated: 19.11.2004