Negotiations on customs union to close soon, despite EU reservations

The European Commission (EC) next month will likely recommend to the EU Council to conclude negotiations with Poland regarding a customs union, despite several reservations it has about Polish border services. These include corruption among officials and excessive truck lines at the borders. However, some EU countries, including Sweden, which heads the bloc in the first half of 2001, are pressing to advance the negotiation process. There are also signs of Poland's readiness to close the negations, among them the almost-complete adjustment of Polish customs regulations to EU standards and the advance in computerization, helped by euro 20 million in aid, obtained from the EC in 1999 and 2000. The EC will most likely advise the EU Council to close talks, but on several conditions, ensuring that modernization of Poland's customs services continues. (Rzeczpospolita, p.B1, Prawo I Gospodarka, p.8) T.J.