European Commission not worried about Polish and Czech referenda

European Commission (EC) spokesman Jonathan Faull offered his assurances yesterday that in the case of Poland and the Czech Republic, the EC is not unduly concerned over the outcome of forthcoming EU referenda. Some un certainty had arisen following the dissolution of the ruling coalition last Saturday and the election of Vaclav Klaus as Czech president, as he is considered euro-skeptic. Jonathan Faull hoped that the procedures of a dapting to EU norms would not be harmed and that both countries would meet all their obligations. He added that if either of the countries voted "no" in the referendum, it would have no impact on inviting other states to join the Union. There are no official concerns over Poland but, according to some sources, EC officials fear personnel changes in those ministries responsible for allocating EU funds as they consider the civil service still too weak and ministerial appointments too politicized. (www.polskieradio.pl, Gazeta Wyborcza, p. 3) M.M.