Poland expected to be presented with difficult financial conditions by EU

It is expected that Poland will have difficulties accepting the financial conditions of membership soon to be presented by Brussels. However, the obligations will only cover the period up to 2006, after which they will be settled with the EU on a partnership basis. The decision that the Union cannot afford to offer the same conditions as were previously available to Spain, Portugal, Greece or Ireland can be realistically expected due to the difficult economic situation within the Union. The financial terms of enlargement will not be easy for Poland in the short run although they are expected to be beneficial over the longer term. (Rzeczpospolita, p. B3) P.W.