Agriculture Commissioner criticizes Poland and cools hopes of early funding

EU Agriculture Commissioner Franz Fischler has sent a letter to Polish Agriculture Minister Artur Balazs, criticizing Poland for infringing the rules in negotiations with the EU. Fischler accused Poland of disclosing confidential aspects of the negotiations. He also moved to cool Polish hopes of obtaining allowances soon from the EU's Sapard agricultural aid program. The letter rejects claims made by Deputy Finance Minister Krzysztof Ners after recent talks in Brussels that the first funds under the program would be paid to Polish farmers by the end of this year or at the beginning of next. Fischler added, "It is about EU money, and we must be sure it will be spent and distributed in a proper way." (Rzeczpospolita, p. B2) M.T.