Environmental protection remains a sticking point for negotiations with EU

The European Union will not re-launch negotiations with Poland on environment protection. In a report published in the middle of October, the European Commission gave a negative evaluation to Poland's progress on environmental protection issues. Yesterday, Polish negotiators presented a detailed plan on the construction of at least one dumping ground in each gmina which would satisfy EU requirements. Poland has until 2012 to complete the works. Polish negotiators additionally presented a detailed plan on how to control the quality of drinking water, promising that by 2004 drinking water will conform to EU specifications. The European Commission admits that Poland spends a considerable amount of money on environmental protection, but considers that the investments are not always used for the right purposes. In the coming 10 years Poland will have to invest ?40 billion on environmental protection. A considerable amount of this sum will be covered by the EU. (Rzeczpospolita, p. B2) A.Z.