Lepper tries to present himself as a pragmatist in Brussels

He is not planning to leave the EU, but he still believes that Polish agriculture received weak support. "This is not the fault of the old EU, but most of all Polish negotiators," said Lepper. During his first meeting with the EU agriculture commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel, the new minister heard that Polish farmers will be able to submit applications for subsidies until June 15 without the threat of being punished. Lepper does not want substantial changes to the common agriculture policy, but he would like to negotiate higher aid to Polish farmers and an increase in the quota for the production of milk, starch and sugar. Lepper was also satisfied that he touched the issue of Polish-Russian trade, but interestingly the Commissioner could not remember this element of the conversation. (Rzeczpospolita, p. B3) M.M