Agro-liberalization talks continue, but looming elections make deal unlikely

unlikely European Union (EU) experts admit it is unlikely any substantial progress will be made in the negotiations on agricultural trade liberalization between Poland and the EU which will take place in Warsaw today. Poland is the only Eastern European accession candidate not to have already agreed on liberalization, which would affect 80% of Polish exports to the EU and 70% of Polish imports from the EU. Delegates are pessimistic because of the looming presidential elections. "We are taking the elections into account and we are not interested in heating up the atmosphere," said one EU official close to expansion commissioner Gunter Verheugen. On the other hand, he said, "The European Commission (EC) cannot go on waiting indefinitely and adjusting to the Polish election calendar." The main obstacle is still the customs duties increase Poland introduced in 1999. The EU is demanding they return to the pre-increase levels as a prerequisite to any agreement, while the Agriculture Ministry does not intend to yield. (Gazeta Wyborcza, page 24)