Le Monde accuses Poland of laxness in guarding its porous Eastern borders

According to French daily Le Monde, Poland is content with the fact that many Ukrainians and Lithuanians are looking for work here, since this will improve relations with neighbors and support the creation of democracy and independence between those nations and Russia. According to the paper, about 10 million Ukrainians and Belarussians cross the Polish border yearly. Illegal employment of those workers produces revenues to Poland amounting to $1 billion. The Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary to have a similar problem, but not on the same scale. The European Union (EU) seeks to force Poland to require entry visas for visitors crossing from the Eastern border. Citizens of Belarus and Russia already are required to apply for special invitations and vouchers. According to Le Monde, Poland opposes a visa policy on account of its historical relations with these nations and its goal of supporting their independence from Russia. (Prawo i Gospodarka, 28-29 Oct., p. 5)