Sikorski was speaking after Poland's Supreme Audit Office (NIK) released a damning report revealing significant irregularities under the previous administration, including instances of pressure on consuls to grant visas inappropriately.
He told reports at a press conference on Thursday that Poland's previous right-wing government led by the Law and Justice (PiS) party lost control of the visa system between 2018 and 2023.
Sikorski said that simplified and priority visa procedures were improperly introduced at the behest of certain state-owned companies and intermediary agencies.
He described the situation as alarming and accused the previous government of failing to maintain adequate oversight.
The case is currently under investigation by NIK, the prosecutor’s office, and a parliamentary commission, which has interviewed over 30 witnesses, including former Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau and former Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki.
The NIK report, presented earlier by Marian Banaś, head of the audit office, outlined 46 irregularities across five areas related to visa issuance.
Banaś said that from November 2022 to May 2023, the ministry operated a "corruption-prone" system that allowed undue influence over consular officials, leading to visa approvals for individuals who should not have received them, including Russian nationals.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk, wrote on X (formerly Twitter): "The NIK report is devastating. The PiS government granted over half a million visas to Russians over five years. Even after the attack on Ukraine, nearly 2,000 Russians received Polish visas, often in violation of the law and against sanctions."
Sikorski emphasized that the current leadership is taking the issue seriously, aligning with the findings of the NIK report and the ministry's own internal reviews.
He stated that steps are being taken to seal gaps in the visa system, including canceling non-transparent priority visa paths and suspending programs such as Poland: Business Harbour, which was aimed at attracting foreign workers.
In addition to suspending controversial visa programs, Sikorski confirmed that new visa procedures are now subject to stricter oversight.
His ministry is also involved in developing a comprehensive migration policy for Poland, which is set to be unveiled by the prime minister on Saturday.
Sikorski described the policy as a reasonable, non-racist approach to migration in Europe.
The foreign minister also cited a noticeable drop in visa issuance in the first half of 2023, with a 31 percent decline in the total number of visas granted, including a 34 percent decrease in national visas.
Schengen visa numbers also fell from nearly 296,000 to just over 203,000 in that period. Visa processing fees have since been increased, with Schengen visas now costing EUR 90 and national visas EUR 135, reflecting Poland's previous status as having one of the lowest visa fees in the European Union.
Sikorski expressed support for internationalizing Polish education by welcoming foreign students but warned that the visa system must not become a loophole for individuals seeking to settle and work in Poland or the European Union under false pretenses.
The so-called cash-for-visas scandal came to light in August last year when Piotr Wawrzyk, then a deputy foreign minister responsible for consular matters and visa issuance, was dismissed from his post.
Media reports subsequently uncovered details of visas being sold to immigrants, including a scheme involving Bollywood film crews.
Edgar Kobos, an associate of Wawrzyk, was arrested for accepting bribes in exchange for fast-tracking visa approvals.
(rt/gs)
Source: IAR, PAP