Kwasniewski in Brussels presses home importance of EU entry in 2004

Poland has to speed up its EU membership negotiations so that the talks terminate next year, president Aleksander Kwasniewski said in Brussels yesterday, reiterating the words of EU enlargement commissioner Gunter Verheugen. According to the President, Poland faces the risk of not getting into the EU in 2004, and may find its next chance relegated to the distant future. Kwasniewski, who had been in Bruges to inaugurate the new academic year at the European College, met with Verheugen who warned him that Poland might not get into the EU in 2004 unless the negotiations were finished next year. During an hour-long meeting, Kwasniewski assured Verheugen that the change in the parliament would have no influence on Poland's stand in the negotiations with the EU. He added that the administration would find a solution to the public finance crisis. "I am sure Poland will meet all the EU membership criteria by 2002", Kwasniewski said during the meeting. Verheugen would not comment on the government's plan to impose a 5% duty on imports to Poland, saying "I will wait until we have consulted the new government". (Gazeta Wyborcza, p.18) J.K.