In Brief VAT: regulations; EU budget contributions; Labor markets open

The government admitted that there is no way for Poland to maintain its exemption of certain services from VAT, as this is against EU regulations. However, the government will try to ensure that the exemption remains in place for Internet use for educational purposes. (Puls Biznesu, p. 6) ... The Polish contribution to the EU budget will amount to slightly more than EUR 2 billion annually in the years 2007-2013, estimates the Office of the European Integration Committee (UKIE). (Parkiet, p. 7) ... Although most "old" EU countries introduced labor market restrictions in order to prevent a massive influx of workers from new member countries, it now looks as though most of these restrictions may be abolished after just two years since expansion, rather than the maximum allowed period of seven years. This is what unofficial talks with diplomats from most Western European countries indicate. The example of the United Kingdom, Ireland and Sweden, which already fully opened their labor markets is encouraging, as fears of attempts at abusing social benefit systems in those countries, proved to be unsubstantiated. (Puls Biznesu, p. 4) T.J.