Internal EU problems could delay membership says government minister

The Head of the European Integration Committee, Danuta Huebner, said in Brus sels on Friday that Poland's date of entering the European Union (EU) is end angered not by the EU's lengthy negotiations on financial issues, but by pos sible political problems within the alliance and the candidate countries. Th e referendum on the Nice treaty in Ireland may pose a real problem if the Ir ish say "no" to the treaty for a second time. Huebner said that the negotiat ions over the finance chapter will not be as dramatic as it seemed a year ag o. "As far as the financial packet is concerned we are destine for a comprom ise," she said. First the EU has to present its proposal on the undetermined direct subsidies. "Unless we know the final EU stand on subsidies, we will n ot discuss something which does not exist," said Huebner. According to the m inister, Poland's negotiations with EU will be completed at the summit in Co penhagen in the middle of December 2002, after which Poland will become an E U member on January 1, 2004. Huebner also disclosed that the most important issue for Poland will be the successful negotiation of appropriately large s ubsidies for the production of agricultural products such as milk or sugar. She explained that Poland realizes that the EU will gradually withdraw from the system of subsidies. (Gazeta Wyborcza, May 25-27, p. 25) A.Z.