The European Commission is planning to investigate two Polish consulates in China and the Philippines regarding the Schengen visa issuance process.
Such a move was prompted by the “visa scanda” in Poland, which started in September last year, SchengenVisaInfo reports.
Regarding the investigation, a collaborative group of experts from EU member states and the European Commission will visit the Polish consulate in Guangzhou, China, and Manila, Philippines, as revealed by European Commission spokesperson Anitta Hipper.
The inspection will take place in March and aims to check how well the rules are followed when considering applications for Schengen visas, as reported by the UNN referring to RMF24.
Previously, the EU Commission also announced inspections at some Polish missions over the next six months. According to Henrik Nielsen, the head of the European Commission’s directorate responsible for the Schengen area, such investigations would occur to better understand the visa scandal.
The European Commission is waiting for information, facts and results of investigations.
Nielsen further clarified that this measure is not about reviewing past events but looking at the whole system to ensure it adheres to the Schengen Code and takes necessary steps to prevent corruption and fraud.
Former Polish Minister Arrested for Allegedly Speeding up Visa Issuance in Exchange for Bribes
In January of this year, Polish authorities arrested Poland’s former deputy foreign minister, Piotr Wawrzyk, following the cash-for-visas scandal.
According to Poland’s anti-corruption agency, the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau (CBA), Wawrzyk has been detained on allegations of expediting work visa processing in exchange for money. In addition to the former minister Wawrzyk, eight other people have also been charged.
He breached his powers. The detained individual faces charges for making unjustified interventions to expedite visa procedures and for disclosing information classified as official secrets to an unauthorised person.
The Poland’s cash-for-visas scandal surfaced in September 2023. Reportedly, several third-country nationals requiring a work visa to enter Poland for employment were granted the document in exchange for money.
Allegedly, nationals of third countries paid nearly €5,000 to quicken the processing of their documents at Polish consulates abroad, thus obtaining the necessary documents faster.
Regarding this issue, opposition parties said that nearly 350,000 work visas were granted in return for bribes. However, the number allegedly stands at about 250,000 visas.
During the first three months of 2023, Polish authorities issued 15,100 visas. However, this number saw a significant drop following the visa scandal.
More specifically, Poland issued 6,500 work visas in the second quarter of last year, 4,800 in the third quarter and 1,600 in the last quarter of 2023.
