Government convinced land purchase plan clears the way in EU negotiations

The Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) and its junior coalition partner the Polish Peasants Party (PSL) have reached a compromise under which European Union (EU) farmers will be allowed to buy land in Poland after a three or seven year obligatory lease period. The agreement paves the way for Poland to close one of the last remaining chapters in its EU entry negotiations. The obligatory lease period, the length of which will depend on the region of Poland where the land lies, will be counted from the date of the signing of the lease agreement. The government has also decided that the terms will apply to all farmers alike, those who are already leasing land, as well as those who will do so in the future. The new Polish stance will be presented in Brussels today. "The government is convinced this chapter in negotiations will be closed by the end of March," commented government spokesman Michal Tober. Although the new stance has won the backing of EU Enlargement Commissioner Guenther Verheugen, Poland's decision must still be approved by all 15 EU members. (Gazeta Wyborcza, March 2-3, p. 24; Reuters) M.T.K.