As part of the adaptation of Polish law to EU Schengen Information System regulations, new categories of SIS data alerts are being introduced.

These are:

• entries on unknown suspects or wanted persons;
• prevention entries on minors and adults at risk;
• entries for return purposes.

The Polish government has also prepared a bill of an act regulating the use of SIS and the system for returning foreigners. The bill proposes the following solutions:

• a new system for exchanging information between EU countries and monitoring persons illegally residing in the EU;
• determining the conditions and procedures for processing SIS information;
• changes to the list of foreigners whose residence in Poland is undesirable;
• establishing a European travel document for return purposes;
• allowing the granting of temporary residence permits to foreigners residing in the territory of Poland on the basis of a humanitarian visa;
• changes to the Polish language requirement in the procedure for obtaining a long-term resident's EU residence permit;
• guaranteeing an effective appeal measure in the event of a consul's refusal to issue a national visa;
• changes related to the elimination of detention for foreigners;
• modification of the rules for adjudicating on re-entry into the territory of Poland and other Schengen countries;
• changes of deadlines in cases related to the procedure for the return of foreigners;
• introducing the institution of assistance and reintegration of foreigners obliged to return;
• repealing the regulations extending the running of the deadlines due to a state of epidemic threat.

The proposed modifications are aimed at maintaining a high level of security and a sense of public confidence in the European Union's migration and asylum policies.

Find more in the PRO HR January 2023.