Bitter EC report on Poland's state of readiness to join EU

A European Commission report, due to be published on November 5, will present Poland as the worst prepared candidate among the 10 slated to join the EU next year. If Poland does not instantly improve some of the 50 criticized areas, than it might lose much of the benefits resulting from integration. The second most criticized country had about a dozen weak areas to improve. Senior EU officials claim that since the Copenhagen summit in December 2002, which accepted Poland's membership to the Union, the pace of the nation's preparations to join the EU has substantially dropped. "If noting improves this will be the last warning and sanctions will follow," claim EU officials. The lowest number of complaints relates to the legal system, but still several major laws have not been accepted and a tens of decrees have not been implemented. Moreover, the issue of direct subsidies for farmers is substantially threatened, as the Agriculture Restructuring and Modernization Agency (ARiMR) has no headquarters, while the Finance Ministry has not accredited its operations. (Rzeczpospolita, October 25-26, pp. A1, B1) M.M.