Poland’s Sejm approved a treaty with Ukraine on Friday to enhance cooperation in combating crime, replacing a 1999 agreement.
Enhanced Cooperation Against Crime
The ratified agreement establishes collaboration between Poland and Ukraine in preventing, detecting, and combating crime, prosecuting offenders, and assisting in the search for missing persons or those evading law enforcement.
The law passed with 242 votes in favor, 10 against, and 185 abstentions.
Modernizing Legal Frameworks
The new agreement replaces the existing 1999 treaty and aims to create a legal framework for preventing and combating acts of sabotage, according to Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński.
Deputy Minister Czesław Mroczek emphasized the urgent need to adapt solutions to contemporary challenges and threats, noting lengthy negotiations preceded the agreement.
Scope of Collaboration
Both countries commit to cooperating in preventing, detecting, and combating crimes as defined by their respective domestic laws, including mutual legal assistance.
Collaboration extends to locating missing persons, identifying unidentified individuals, searching for crime-related items, and identifying and recovering proceeds of crime.
New Operational Techniques
The agreement introduces new forms of cooperation, such as covert surveillance shipments – a technique involving controlled transport of prohibited materials – and the potential exchange of liaison officers.
It also defines the powers of officials from one country operating on the territory of the other, and addresses issues like border crossings, joint working groups, and training programs.
Information Exchange and Mutual Assistance
Cooperation will primarily involve the exchange of information regarding offenders, suspects, participants in crimes, relevant circumstances, and the structure and methods of organized crime groups, based on reciprocity.
The agreement also outlines conditions for refusing information requests.
Previous Agreement Details
The 1999 agreement focused on cooperation between security and public order agencies to combat organized crime, including terrorism, illicit trafficking of radioactive materials, illegal arms trade, and illegal production of dangerous materials.
It also covered preventing illegal migration, counterfeiting, and money laundering.
Further Legislative Steps
The new ratification law will come into effect 14 days after its official publication and will now proceed to the Senate for review.
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