EU report tells candidate countries to get tough on bureaucracy and corruption

The administrative preparation of European Union (EU) candidate countries, including Poland, leaves much to be desired according to a European Commission report published on Wednesday. Increasing the independence of courts and shortening the length of court cases which are notoriously long and slow moving, improving remuneration and working conditions, the fight against corruption, clarification of property rights (including land) improving food safety standards and border controls, are just a few of the areas in which Poland and other candidate countries have to make "a considerable effort". The report does not include numbers regarding employment in administrative bodies though, according to European Affairs Minister Danuta Huebner, Poland needs 18,000 more clerks to attain the administrative capacity needed to meet membership requirements. (Prawo i Gospodarka, p. 11) P.W.