Pique insists that Spain has no intention to hinder or delay EU expansion

Chief Spanish EU negotiator Josep Pique, who is visiting Poland together with King Juan Carlos and Queen Sophie, has asserted that the Spanish government does not intend to hinder or delay European Union expansion. His comments come two days after Spain declared that it would withhold its support on the issue of a transition period for the free flow of workers in the EU after Poland becomes part of the union. Although this appears on the surface to benefit Poland, in reality it may only delay Polish accession if EU countries decide that Spain's stance means they have to begin work on finding a consensus. According to commentators, Spain's declaration should be seen as a ploy to retain EU subsidies for its own poorest regions. "I never expected that minister Pique would convince me that Spain cares only about Polish and not Spanish interests. However, there are some matters where Spanish and Polish interests run parallel," foreign minister Wladyslaw Bartoszewski has said. (Zycie, p. 3) A.Z.