Cimoszewicz meets Spanish PM and discusses EU voting issues

Foreign Minister Włodzimierz Cimoszewicz who met his Spanish counterpart, Ana Palacio, in Białowieża on Saturday refuted accusations from opposition politicians who said that he wants to reach a compromise with the EU too quickly. Cimoszewicz said that Poland has to lose its reputation as a country which is hindering EU integration. At the same time, others fear that Spain will abandon Poland if it resists a compromise. In related news, the Netherlands is believed to have agreed to open its labor market for Poles after May 1, 2004. According to the report of the Economic Analysis Office, by 2006, the influx of those looking for work from the new EU member states will amount to 5,000-10,000 annually. (Rzeczpospolita, p. A9) A.Z.