Gazeta Wyborcza: Poland ready for concessions to move EU talks forward

Polish negotiators are ready to make major concessions in talks on Poland's EU entry to move the process forward, claims Gazeta Wyborcza quoting an unofficial government report. According to it, Poland is considering yielding in 20 of the 41 transition periods it had asked the EU for. The concessions would include opening up air, rail and bus transport markets to EU firms as soon as Poland joins and quicker liberalization of the gas market. The negotiating team is reportedly also considering agreeing to faster adaptation of EU norms in such fields as fishing, environment and taxes. However, according to the report, Poland would not back down from demanding euro 2 billion-euro 3 billion a year in direct farming subsidies, on the same terms as other EU countries. Negotiators also plan to stick by an 18-year ban on foreigners buying land here. The report is part of a proposal for a new negotiating strategy, which has yet to be approved by the government. Poland says that it plans to be ready to join the EU on Jan.1, 2003. (Gazeta Wyborcza, p.1) T.J.