European Commission to accept 12-year protection period on land sale

Representatives of the European Commission (EC) confirmed on Friday that the EC agreed to Poland's stance regarding the sale of land to foreigners. However, European Affairs Minister Danuta Huebner said that she could not officially confirm this. Under the current Polish stance, a 12-year protection period before EU companies could purchase domestic farmland and forests would be introduced. An obligatory seven-year lease on land in northern and western Poland, and a three-year lease in other parts of Poland, would also be introduced for farmers who want to settle in Poland. Consultations with the EC regarding land purchase will take place on January 17. (Gazeta Wyborcza, Jan. 12-13, pp. 1 & 24) P.J.