Poland already voicing opposition ahead of EC farm subsidy announcement
The European Commission (EC) is expected on Wednesday to ask European Union
(EU) candidates to wait 10 years before receiving their full entitlement of
direct farming subsidies. The EC is also likely to propose an initial
allotment of just 25%. However, unofficial estimates by Poland's Agriculture
Ministry indicate that a 40% allotment is the absolute minimum below which
Poland will lose out on implementing the farming production limits demanded
by the EU. "[The anticipated] proposal is unacceptable for us. We cannot
agree to a second category membership," commented Agriculture Minister
Jaroslaw Kalinowski. Since with the limited subsidies farmers in new member
states would be at a disadvantage compared to the fully-subsidized EU
producers, the EC allows for possible maintaining of customs protection of
their agricultural markets. (Rzeczpospolita, p. B2; Gazeta Wyborcza, p. 18;
Reuters) T.J.
