Justice and internal affairs issues in EU negotiations closed ahead of schedule

The official decision to close two further EU negotiation chapters - those on justice and internal affairs - was to have been taken on July 29, but due to the absence of any of objections from member states, negotiations were concluded yesterday. EU representatives were convinced by Polish government guarantees on the tightness of the country's Eastern borders and plans to introduce visas for citizens of Russia (including Kaliningrad), Ukraine and Belarus in July 2003. The Polish Cabinet had to agree to a number of specific requirements, adherence to which will be verified by European Commission experts every six months. For instance, 5,000 additional border guards will be employed by 2006. Moreover, the government will construct 5 new watchtowers on the Eastern border this year, two in 2003 and a further three in 2004. EU procedures for fighting money laundering will come into power as early as June next year, a year earlier than planned. Poland also plans to ratify the Naples convention, which will allow foreign customs officers to conduct investigations on Polish territory. (Rzeczpospolita, pp. A4) M.M