The importance of border surveillance and border traffic control at the eastern border of the Republic of Poland to the cross-border security of the European Union

Abstract

The main non-military criterion of border surveillance is border control; due to the geopolitical situation in Ukraine, preceded by the COVID-19 pandemic, the issue of border surveillance with regard to the eastern border of the Republic of Poland, also performing the function of one of the longest sections of the European Union’s external land border, has become extremely important. Therefore, the article aims to point to the importance of border surveillance and border traffic control at the eastern border of the Republic of Poland to the cross-border security of the EU. To achieve this objective, it presents the main characteristics of border control and cross-border security at the external borders of the EU, describes the ‘Polish’ section of the EU’s external land border, indicates the efficiency of control measures taken and identifies the threats and challenges to the protection and surveillance of border traffic. The article is theoretical and partly comparatively analytical in nature. It relies on traditional research methods: deductive reasoning and comparative analysis.