External Borders Fund 2007-2013

 http://eur-lex.europa.eu/JOHtml.do?uri=OJ:L:2007:144:SOM:EN:HTML

In the period 2007-2013, the total amount available from the Fund for Poland is approximately € 78 million.

Programming

The Ministry of Interior and Administration has completed its works on the Multiannual Programme under the External Borders Fund 2007-2013. The document has been approved by the European Commission, by its decision of 12 December 2008.

The Multiannual Programme specifies operations for implementing the following 5 Priorities:

PRIORITY 1: Supporting further gradual establishment of the common integrated border management system in the field of controlling persons on external borders and surveillance of these borders.
PRIORITY 2: Supporting the development and implementation of the national components of a European Surveillance system and/or a permanent European Patrol Network at the southern maritime borders of the EU.
PRIORITY 3: Support for the issuing of visas and the tackling of illegal immigration, including identifying forged or false travel documents through facilitating operations organized by the consular services and other services of the Member States in third countries.
PRIORITY 4: Supporting the establishment of IT systems necessary for the implementation of Community legislation on external borders and visas.
PRIORITY 5: Supporting the effective application of the Community legislation on external borders and visas, in particular the Schengen Borders Code and the European Code on Visas.

Projects implemented as part of the abovementioned Priorities will contribute to the achievement of the following national operational goals:

1. Adjusting the infrastructure at border crossings to European Union standards;
2. Maintaining high standard of control and effective protection of EU external borders and ensuring security of the Schengen area;
3. Development of an EU external borders surveillance system;
4. Increasing the functionality of IT infrastructure of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs;
5. Supporting biometric infrastructure of consulate offices, transfer of data in the process of issuing visas and development of communication routes;
6. Effective service of visa traffic and foreigner’s issues;
7. Adjusting IT systems to the full implementation of Community legislation on EU external border protection;
8. Improving qualifications of services whose tasks are related to border protection and protection of the Schengen area, consular services in the field of external borders and visas, in particular the Schengen Borders Code and the European Code on Visas.

In January 2009 a closed recruitment within the framework of the Annual Programme 2007 has ended.
The Project Cards submitted by the following beneficiaries of the Fund are currently under evaluation:

• Headquarters of the Border Guard
• National Police Headquarters
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Customs Service
• Lublin Voivodeship Office
• Podkarpackie Voivodeship Office

The funds allocated for 2007 amount to approx. € 7 million.