2005 The year in brief: MARCH

Ban lifted

Moscow allows Polish food products into Russia, after banning them in November of 2004 following claims that they did not meet Russian hygiene standards. The ban was lifted with the help of the European Commission.

TP violation

The Arbitration Court of the Polish Chamber of Commerce rules that TP violated an agreement not to offer competitive services to Internet portal WP. The verdict could cost the telecom company as much as zł.221.5 million.(Poland A.M.)

EU analysis

Forecasts show that in 2005 the Polish economy will grow by 3.5-4.8%. EU analysts say that Poland has disadvantageous conditions for entrepreneurship, such as inefficient courts, an administration unsympathetic to business, unregulated land-ownership and an out-of-date road infrastructure. They believe that problems result from delayed reforms, the worse than anticipated economic situation of Poland's neighbors and a strong domestic currency.