Brinkmanship tires euro diplomats
Polish efforts to make last-minute changes to its EU membership terms have been greeted with dismay and dismissal in Brussels.
A request to add a "protocol" to the Accession Treaty spelling out Poland's freedom from EU interference on abortion laws has been flatly rejected by the European Commission.
And the clash has only reinforced frustration with Polish Prime Minister Leszek Miller and his fast-growing reputation in Europe for negotiating "up to the brink."
Mr. Miller is at the mercy of eurosceptics seizing on a sensitive issue to bolster their anti-EU campaign and boost a referendum "no" vote.
But the prime minister's plight has generated no sympathy either within the commission or among fellow European governments.
"If he wanted a protocol on abortion, it should have been raised before the final agreement in Copenhagen in December," said one commission official. "There is absolutely no way the accession terms are being reopened. It just isn't possible. It's a case of take it or leave it."
The leader of the British socialists in the European Parliament, Gary Titley, said: "This is a smoke screen put up by the Polish eurosceptics. I don't think anyone thinks it is anything more than that. Besides, abortion is not a matter within the EU's competence.
Nevertheless, Ireland ensured that its "sovereignty" over the abortion issue was enshrined in its EU membership terms, and now Poland wants the same. The difference is that Ireland dealt with the matter before its accession deal was concluded.
And although Polish government officials pressed hard in Brussels last week for some wording to be added in the form of a special "protocol," they were told it was too late.
EU governments could still relent before the Accession Treaty is formally ratified in April - but it seems unlikely.
Geoff Meade is the European Union editor of the Press Association.
A request to add a "protocol" to the Accession Treaty spelling out Poland's freedom from EU interference on abortion laws has been flatly rejected by the European Commission.
And the clash has only reinforced frustration with Polish Prime Minister Leszek Miller and his fast-growing reputation in Europe for negotiating "up to the brink."
Mr. Miller is at the mercy of eurosceptics seizing on a sensitive issue to bolster their anti-EU campaign and boost a referendum "no" vote.
But the prime minister's plight has generated no sympathy either within the commission or among fellow European governments.
"If he wanted a protocol on abortion, it should have been raised before the final agreement in Copenhagen in December," said one commission official. "There is absolutely no way the accession terms are being reopened. It just isn't possible. It's a case of take it or leave it."
The leader of the British socialists in the European Parliament, Gary Titley, said: "This is a smoke screen put up by the Polish eurosceptics. I don't think anyone thinks it is anything more than that. Besides, abortion is not a matter within the EU's competence.
Nevertheless, Ireland ensured that its "sovereignty" over the abortion issue was enshrined in its EU membership terms, and now Poland wants the same. The difference is that Ireland dealt with the matter before its accession deal was concluded.
And although Polish government officials pressed hard in Brussels last week for some wording to be added in the form of a special "protocol," they were told it was too late.
EU governments could still relent before the Accession Treaty is formally ratified in April - but it seems unlikely.
Geoff Meade is the European Union editor of the Press Association.
