Acta Iuris Stetinensis

This article is an attempt of a theoretical analysis and practical approach to the contribution of the Border Guard to peace missions carried out by the European Union. Acting in close cooperation with formations such as the Police, the Army, the Customs Service, and the Border Guard, these missions support countries that have found themselves in military, economic or national conflicts. Their commitment and joint actions undertaken together with officers from other countries enables exchange of valuable experience, access to new-generation technical equipment, implementation of well-known procedures of border control and gaining valuable knowledge and competence related to language fluency. Due to the fact that Polish Border Guard officers help countries that are experiencing conflict or crisis, they have the opportunity to demonstrate their skills. The Polish Border Guard’s participation in peace missions in Kosovo, Georgia, Ukraine, Macedonia, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania and Spain are examples of such involvement. A number of tasks entrusted in the Polish formation deserves recognition. Without their help it would not have been possible to react so quickly to threats that de facto concern all countries that are in the vicinity of the conflict, not only those that are directly engaged in it. The European Union, bringing together all its member states, has a powerful army which is used to minimize or ultimately eliminate danger zones. It should be stressed that the Border Guard has never been asked by the United Nations to assist in its peace missions. The United Nations focuses on the use of the armed forces.