EU fears exaggerated

This year Poland stands to receive €993 million more than it chips in to the EU budget. At the end of August, the balance of transfers to and from the EU was €646 million in Poland's favor. Pietras pointed out the prices of some goods did increase immediately after accession, but that the negative scenarios of a massive deluge of EU goods onto the Polish market and widespread exodus of labor from Poland to work in the EU did not materialize. On October 16, Polish farmers began receiving direct subsidies under the EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). They are being paid out of the Polish budget and refunded by the EU next year. (Poland A.M.)