EC rejects Poland's request for more time to modernize its highways

The European Commission (EC) has rejected a request from the Polish government for more time to improve the country's roads. The EC has allowed Poland just four to six years after joining the European Union (EU) for its road modernization program, instead of the extension until 2016 that the Polish government was seeking. However the EC has promised Poland major financial support. EU experts say that the condition of its roads is one of the largest obstacles to Poland's economic integration with the rest of Europe. The cost of bringing Poland's four main routes up to EU standards is estimated at between euro 18 billion and euro 20 billion, one third of which would be financed from the EU Structural Fund. (Rzeczpospolita, p. B2) A.Z.