The European Commission announced today that it has sought “clarifications” from Poland over “worrying” allegations of alleged visa fraud involving members of the Warsaw government.

European Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson wrote to the Polish authorities “to ask for clarification” and asked for a response by October 3, Commission spokeswoman Anita Hipper said.

Speaking of “very worrying complaints”, Hipper underlined that they raise “questions about the respect of European law”.

Poland’s foreign minister has been embroiled for weeks following revelations that visas to foreign nationals were facilitated by under-the-table payments. Charges have been brought against people.

Nationals of countries in the Middle East and Africa have benefited from this scheme, after it began to be implemented in the countries concerned with the involvement of Polish consulates and companies.

Germany has also asked Poland for “swift and full clarifications” on these “serious” accusations, which Warsaw calls absurd and rejects.

“Unfortunately, the German press is sticking to the totally absurd opposition narrative of the extent of what we’ve been up against. I spoke to the German Minister of the Interior yesterday (…). I explained the real extent” of the problem, Polish Interior Minister Mariusz Kaminski told Radio Zet.