Compromises by new government expected to spur EU accession talks

The next government plans quick compromises to revive Poland's European Unio n (EU) membership talks, senior figures in the new administration have said. "The fast and efficient creation of the ruling coalition, which set EU entry as a top priority, should dispel fears that the EU's eastern enlargement cou ld be delayed because of Poland," said Jozef Oleksy, a former Democratic Lef t Alliance (SLD) premier who will chair parliament's European Committee. Cur rent SLD leader and Prime Minister-elect Leszek Miller has made it clear he wants to go down in history as the man who led Poland into the EU, and is ba nking on success to win him re-election in 2005. "The EU's enlargement road map -- completing negotiations in 2002 and accepting new members in 2004 -- remains realistic for Poland," said Jan Truszczynski, a former ambassador to Brussels who is tipped to become Poland's chief EU entry negotiator. In orde r to give fresh impetus to the EU entry talks, the government is likely to a gree to the EU proposal to restrict the free movement of workers from new me mber countries for up to seven years. It will probably also compromise on th e issue of land sales to foreigners. "The two chapters should be closed by t he end of the year, so that next year we can focus on the most difficult iss ues of farming and regional aid," said one senior SLD politician. (Reuters)