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International Cooperation ProgramFriendly EU Border |
contact: owasilewska@batory.org.pl
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Friendly EU Border project was launched by the Stefan Batory Foundation in 2002. Our aim is to streamlining Polish and EU visa regime as well as to improve the quality of services at the external EU border crossings. Furthermore we are trying to raise public awareness of the need to implement friendly border control mechanisms for EU Eastern neighbors. In cooperation with different non-governmental organizations and research institutions we have been monitoring procedures of issuing visas to citizens of Eastern Europe by countries of the EU. We also monitor the way visitors entering EU are treated at border crossings. As a result, up to now we published several reports from: monitoring of Polish eastern borders (2003), monitoring of Polish visa policy (2004), monitoring of visa policies of the EU Member States (2006), and monitoring of the EU external border crossing points (2008) (see: Publications). Reports together with recommendations based on our monitorings are used in the campaign on EU forum to advocate for implementation of policy of easy access and affordable entry visas for EU Eastern neighbors. Monitoring of Visa Policy 2008Extension of the Schengen area to Poland and other New Member States had a significant impact on the Visa Policies of those countries towards EU Eastern Neighbors. Lifting of the controls on the borders with EU countries is accompanied by more restrictive procedures of issuing visas to Belarus, Ukraine and Russia citizens. Furthermore Visa Facilitation Agreement between European Union and some neighboring countries was implemented. How did it change the practical aspects of the visa’s procedures? How these procedures could be improved? These are the questions worth answering. Situation half a year after Poland’s accession to the Schengen as well as necessary actions concerning Polish visa policy are presented in the analysis What can be changed regarding visas? Visa policy upon Poland’s accession to the Schengen Zone [PDF 157]. More detailed assessment of the situation will be available in December 2008 after completion of monitoring of visa policy towards EU Eastern neighbors that is conducted in autumn 2008. The monitoring is based on the same methodology as the one we conducted in 2005 (see: Visa Policies of the European Union Member States — Monitoring Report (2006)), therefore the consequences of the last changes could be evaluated in a reliable way. The ending report will contain recommendations on the most desirable, friendly and consistent model of EU visa policy. Monitoring of the EU External Border Crossing Points 2007-2008Particular efforts of EU states to reinforce the border in practice imply limitations on the movement of persons, and thus hinder realization of the fundamental goal of border crossings, i.e. movement of persons and goods. How can both border functions be reconciled – how to protect the border without closing it? We tried to answer that question in the next stage of the EU Friendly Border project. In 2007 in cooperation with partners from Estonia, Finland, Lithuania, Slovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria and Romania – states, which, like Poland, are responsible for protecting the Union’s external border – we evaluated the functioning of EU border crossings. We investigated the quality of infrastructure, crossing procedures, duration and conditions of waiting, border and customs officers’ behavior toward visitors crossing the border. In April 2008 we published a report Gateways to Europe. Checkpoints on the EU External Land Border [PDF 1661 KB] which summarizes findings of the monitoring and contains recommendations for institutions responsible for the way the external EU borders operate. The report and recommendations have been presented since May 2008 at a series of conferences organized in the countries of partners participating in the project and at the EU forum (see: Events). Challenge Project
Since November 2004 we have participated in international project: Challenge. The Changing Landscape of Liberty and Security in Europe funded by the Sixth Framework Research Program of DG Research of the European Commission. Within project scientific researches as well as advocacy activities are implemented by 21 partners’ institutions in 17 workpackages dealing with different aspects of security policy and analysis of its implications for civil liberties, human rights and social cohesion in EU. Project is coordinated by the Center for European Policy Studies from Brussels. Stefan Batory Foundation is a participant of the 7th workpackage: The changing relationships between the Accession countries and their neighbors in the changing landscape of liberty and security. Within the project offers expertises and publications relating to migration issues. Copyright © Fundacja Batorego
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