Schengen Cooperation and Combating Cross-border and Organised Crime, including Trafficking and Itinerant Criminal Groups

Programme Summary

Why is this programme needed?  When Poland became a member of Schengen in 2007, the country became responsible for guarding the longest external EU/Schengen land border - towards Ukraine, Belarus and Russia/Kaliningrad. According to the EUs police agency, Europol, “the North East hub” of Europe, to which Poland belongs, remains an area for transit of illicit commodities to/from the former Soviet Union and a base for violent multi-criminal groups with international reach. The Polish law enforcement services try to stop smuggling, especially of cigarettes and alcohol, from the neighbouring countries. Poland is a source, transit and destination country for trafficking in human beings. What will this programme achieve?  The Polish Ministry of Interior will organise a call for proposals in the spring of 2013. Given the nature of this programme area, eligible applicants are likely mainly to be public institutions such as the police, the border guards, the customs services and other public institutions. Polish NGOs and international organisations can apply for funding for projects related to trafficking in human beings. How will it be achieved? 

• Strengthen the police and the customs officers’ investigative techniques and other operational skills.
• Improve the Foreign language skills of law enforcement officers.
• Study-visits, seminars, conferences etc. to improve the knowledge and the working methods of the enforcement officers and thereby improving European police cooperation.
• Reinforce Poland’s capacity to fight trafficking in human beings. In 2013, the Council of Europe (COE) will publish a report on Poland’s laws and set-up for combatting trafficking in human beings. The Programme includes a project with the Council of Europe, which shall follow up the recommendations in the report.

How will bilateral relations be strengthened?  When applying for funding under the call, the Polish institutions – the police, customs service etc. - are also asked to suggest activities to be carried out with their Norwegian counterparts, with the Council of Europe or with partners in other states benefitting from Norway Grants. What are the partnership opportunities?  The Polish institutions, NGOs and possibly international organisations applying for funding will approach relevant Norwegian or international partners to suggest joint activities. Who can apply for funding under this programme?  Funding will be available for Polish law enforcement agencies and to some extend Polish NGOs combatting trafficking in human beings.