Border authorities struggle to deliver on EU eastern security promises

Border authorities striving to seal the EU's future eastern border have a new problem that may prove even more painful than lack of proper equipment, namely lack of personnel. "Mister Limit is in charge here. There is no money to man the posts," complained Polish officers. In some cases only a third of vacancies have been filled and in others officers are forced to work overtime. "At the moment, if we want to send a patrol we have to take a policeman along. Otherwise, we would not even be able to form a proper two-man group," said Major Jan Nipurczyk of the Polish Border Guard. Also, in the mountainous south-east of the country one third of the personnel needed to stop illegal immigrants is also lacking. According to the plan Poland has sent to Brussels, from 2003 on, 1,325 new professional officers would be hired every year to replace conscripts and protect the eastern border. According to the Interior and Administration Ministry, however, next year only 720 new officers will receive contracts. (Rzeczpospolita, p. A5) J.K.