EU subsidies may be lost if preparatory work is not completed soon

Poland may lose a substantial part of its EUR 12.5 billion structural fund, if work aimed at preparing the country to use the EU structural help continues at the current pace. According to a report published yesterday by the European Commission, the situation is at best 'serious.' In an unusual move, the EC has directly accused the Infrastructure Ministry of not doing any preparatory work concerning the EU subsidies. Five months before accession to the EU, Poland still lacks a clearly defined legal basis that would allow Brussels to pay even one euro. (Rzeczpospolita, p. A1, Gazeta Wyborcza, p. 1) J.K.