Poland claims EU stance on agricultural subsidies is unacceptable

Polish authorities harshly reacted to yesterday's announcement by the European Commission concerning its decision not to change its stance on agricultural subsidies. Prime Minister Leszek Miller said they were "very unsatisfactory," and claimed this is not official European Union (EU) policy but simply a proposal sent to other EU countries. Foreign Minister, Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz acknowledged that the European Commission offered Polish farmers unfair conditions and therefore violated one of the basic rules of the common market of the European Union. Deputy Prime Minister and Agriculture Minister, Jaroslaw Kalinowski called these proposals "unacceptable" and said that this decision will lead to worsening of negotiations concerning further liberalization of trade in agricultural goods and foodstuffs between Poland and the EU. It will also force Poland to seek solutions, which at least in part, will cover the costs Polish farmers will have to suffer due to unfair competition. (Rzeczpospolita, p. A1) A.K.