How Poland will financially benefit from EU membership in the early years

Between 2004 to 2006 Poland will receive from Brussels net euro 5.2 billion. In 2004, the first year of EU membership, the subsidies will equal euro 3.2 billion. At the same time Poland will start paying membership contributions of euro 2.4 billion to the EU budget. This leaves a surplus of euro 870 million. In order to improve the financial condition of new EU members, the European Commission has agreed to allow the use of pre-accession funds, such as Phare, ISPA and Sapard, for up to four years after the date they were initially granted. By late 2005 the financial benefits from EU membership should begin to be clearly seen. Then Poland will receive euro 1.6 billion over what in pays in EU contributions, however almost this will come from pre-accession funds. (Rzeczpospolita, p. A1) A.Z.