EU tightens pursestrings on farm subsidies

Foreign ministers of European Union (EU) countries have made it clear that the European Commission (EC)'s offer of 25% of direct farming subsidies is the maximum EU candidate countries can hope for. The ministers met inf ormally in Spain, making no official decisions, but giving a strong message to candidates. Germany and France are said to have unofficially agreed to demand that the EC's offer of euro 40 billion for accession countries in the years 2004-2006 be slashed to euro 32 billion. In view of the September parliamentary elections in Germany it now looks unlikely for the financial terms of EU expansion to be determined by June, although Spain, which currently holds the preesidency of the EU, has made such a pledge to c andidate countries. (Rzeczpospolita, Feb. 8-9, p. B2) T.J.