An impulse to take up the audit were alarming signals coming to NIK on the functioning of border crossings in the East of Poland. This is quite a big problem for people living near the borders but also for travellers. Their main objection is the still too long waiting time for customs clearance. NIK has heard about improper organisation of work of the Polish customs officers, including standstills in the service of vehicles. Similar irregularities have also been described by the Batory Foundation in its report ”The border needs repair”. It mentions the so-called dead periods when the Polish Border Guard disappears from lanes.
During the audit NIK inspectors will pay special attention to the system of work organisation of governors, customs officers and the Border Guard. Cooperation with the Border Guard from neighbouring states will be evaluated, including the implementation of concluded agreements. The auditors will also verify if infrastructural investments on border crossing translated into a better quality of service for people crossing the border.
In order to obtain the most extensive and possibly most objective data, NIK has launched an internet survey. It is addressed to the persons who crossed the Eastern border in the last three years.
