The Polish Sejm on Friday approved Senate amendments to a bill dissolving the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau (CBA), transferring its powers to other agencies.
CBA Dissolution Approved, Powers Reassigned
The Sejm approved amendments from the Senate regarding the law to dissolve the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau (CBA), effective October 1st. Following this date, the police, Internal Security Agency (ABW), and Customs and Fiscal Service (KAS) will assume the Bureau’s competencies.
All eleven redactional and organizational amendments proposed by the Senate’s legislative bureau during the legislative process were supported by the Sejm.
Extensive Legal Changes
The law, adopted by the Sejm on March 13th, coordinating anti-corruption activities and dissolving the CBA, modifies approximately 150 laws previously related to the Bureau. Beyond the dissolution, the law establishes rules for anti-corruption protection applicable to projects with heightened corruption risk or threats to the state’s economic interests.
Government Coordination and Responsibilities
Under the revised regulations, the Prime Minister, through the Minister Coordinator of Special Services, will be responsible for coordinating anti-corruption efforts. The police, ABW, and Military Counterintelligence Service (SKW) will be directly responsible for implementing the tasks.
These agencies will oversee the development or agreement of normative acts and procedures related to public expenditure, as well as changes in ownership structure. They will also monitor permit and concession procedures, and public procurement by government administration bodies and state legal entities.
Confidentiality of Protected Projects
Oversight will also extend to external entities implementing government projects. A list of such projects under anti-corruption protection, maintained by the Prime Minister, and information regarding this protection, will not be considered public information, as stipulated in the law.
Personnel Transfers and Budget Allocation
The government project justification indicated approximately 1260 CBA staff members and 200 civil employees. Upon the law’s enactment, 935 staff members and all civil employees will be transferred to the police. Around 300 staff members and civil employees from other police units will join the new Central Bureau for Combating Corruption. 180 staff positions will move to the ABW, and 145 to the KAS. Some individuals will utilize CBA-acquired retirement benefits, according to the project developers.
The regulations are scheduled to take effect on October 1st, with certain articles concerning the Bureau’s liquidation coming into force on July 1st.
The remaining CBA budget for the year will be proportionally allocated to the agencies and institutions assuming its tasks.
Coalition Agreement and Presidential Review
The dissolution of the CBA was included in the coalition agreement of the governing parties. The bill now proceeds to President Karol Nawrocki’s desk.
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