Buzek: EU supports Poland's plans to speed up membership negotiations
Prime Minister Jerzy Buzek said he had received support for Poland's plans to accelerate EU accession negotiations. Poland is preparing to join EU on Jan 1, 2003, through a speedy introduction of European legislation, building of institutions, and good use of EU funds. EU President Romano Prodi admitted that the EU negotiation timetable, although less ambitious than the Polish aspirations, did not rule out a speedier negotiation progress. Poland wants to close negotiations in 11 negotiating areas, including environment, in the first half of this year. At a meeting with the EU commissioner for environment protection Margot Wallstroem, Buzek promised that the Polish parliament would adopt all laws adjusting the Polish legislation to EU standards in environment protection this year. By the end of February, a detailed plan of introducing the entire EU legislation in environment protection will be ready. In Wallstroem's opinion, Poland's plans are very ambitious, as the country is behind others in this area. Moreover, she said that Poland demands too many and too long transition periods in environmental protection, that would give it a unfair competition edge to EU businesses. Buzek also discussed the problem of Russian gas supplies for Western Europe that would have to go through Poland. Poland wants to take part in discussions on energy security in Europe and gas supply still before it becomes a full EU member. As to the Polish government's recent conflict with the European consortium Eureko, concerning privatisation of Poland's largest insurance company PZU, Buzek assured he would look into solving the problem. Eureko has recently complained to Prodi about Poland breaking the privatisation deal it had signed in 1999.
Źródło:IntelliNews Daily
