Poland Defence and Security Report Q1 2010

Poland’s geographical position in Europe and its entry into the EU make it a prime location for the trafficking of illegal immigrants, arms and narcotics. The problems are not as extreme as those in countries further south, such as the Czech Republic and countries of former Yugoslavia. Nonetheless, a significant amount of funds will have to be invested in the Border Guards paramilitary unit, under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Interior and Administration, in order to secure the lengthy border with the Ukraine and prevent smuggling of goods and people into the enlarged EU.

Recent intelligence suggests that Islamist cells operating in Western European towns may have networks extending into countries such as Poland. In 2005, the Ministry of Defence said that in order to boost counter-terrorism operations it would increase funding for the military police (Zandarmeria Wojskowa, ZW) by 68.6% to US$63.5mn (PLN213mn) and the service was expanded with the creation of four battalion-sized operational units called Oddzial Specjalny by 2007. These units have approximately 2,000 professional soldiers, equal to about 45% of the military police’s manpower.

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