Parliament approves controversial bill on formation of Polski Cukier

Parliament yesterday approved a bill establishing a holding company, Polski Cukier, consisting of the country's 49 sugar companies that have not been privatized. Following the decision, a Coordinating Committee for Polski Cukier was appointed, formed of representatives of the 49 companies. However, parliament's approval of the bill goes against a Cabinet decision to form Polski Cukier out of 28 companies, and the move is likely to be blocked by a presidential veto. The Office for Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) is against including all 49 companies in the holding, since this would give Polski Cukier a virtual monopoly position on the market. According to lawyers, the creation of Polski Cukier is unconstitutional, and economists claim that the company would be inefficient. (Rzeczpospolita, p. B1, Prawo i Gospodarka, p. 27) P.W.