The findings, presented on Tuesday during a session led by commission head Marek Sowa, point to significant mismanagement in the Poland Business Harbour program, irresponsible visa policies and restrictions on consular powers.
Sowa, a member of the governing Civic Coalition (KO), summarized the commission's 11 months of work, which included hearing 37 witnesses and analyzing extensive evidence.
The report accuses former deputy foreign minister Piotr Wawrzyk of being a key figure in the corrupt system and highlights broader security risks tied to visa issuance.
The draft claims that between 2020 and 2023, a total of 95,115 visas were issued under the Poland Business Harbour program, with 89,907 going to Belarusian nationals and 2,613 to Russian citizens, including 1,838 after Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
However, only 14 percent of recipients used their visas to enter Poland, raising concerns about the program's oversight.
According to Maria Janyska (KO), the program lacked adequate control mechanisms, compromising national security.
The commission also criticized Poland's disproportionate issuance of work visas, which accounted for nearly half of all such visas issued in the European Union between 2019 and 2023.
Aleksandra Leo (Poland 2050) said that ministry officials pressured consuls to favor specific applicants and companies, using expedited processes that facilitated irregularities.
She added that Poland's visa system effectively became a gateway for migrants to the European Union's passport-free Schengen area, and in some cases, to the United States and Canada.
Maciej Konieczny (Razem) blamed legislative changes during the reviewed period for undermining Poland's control over visa issuance, increasing migration risks and enabling large-scale abuses.
He cited the politically motivated placement of key visa processing centers in the cities of Łódź and Kielce as a factor in the dysfunction.
The draft report also alleges that Lech Kołakowski, a former secretary of state, exploited his position to improperly influence visa issuance for personal and business gains.
Further issues included a lack of response from Poland’s Central Anti-Corruption Bureau (CBA) to evidence of corruption and irregularities in student visas.
The report notes that 10 percent of student visas granted during the review period were untraceable due to flaws in the foreign ministry's IT systems.
Regarding student visas, Sowa revealed that certain universities prioritized recruiting international students to sustain their financial models, with some institutions relying almost entirely on foreign enrollments.
He also noted consular warnings about improper pressures from universities to expedite visa approvals.
The commission has proposed referring 11 individuals to prosecutors for potential crimes, including former prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki, ex-foreign minister Zbigniew Rau, and other senior officials.
Allegations include abuse of power, neglect of duties and bribery.
The report will be finalized next month, with commission members able to submit amendments until December 3.
The commission plans to vote on the final version that day.
Opposition members from the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party have announced plans to submit a dissenting opinion, which must be filed by December 6 before the report is forwarded to parliamentary Speaker Szymon Hołownia for presentation in the lower house, the Sejm.
In October, Poland's Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski pledged to close gaps in the country's visa system, accusing the previous government of losing control over visa management.
(rt/gs)
Source: IAR, PAP