Poland lagging behind Czech Republic and Hungary in EU accession talks

Poland has fallen behind the Czech Republic and Hungary in its European Union accession negotiations, as these countries have already accepted EU proposals in the key areas of land purchase by foreigners and citizens' rights to work in the EU. The Czech Republic has agreed to a seven-year transition period before foreigners can buy land in the country, while Hungary is ready to do so within the next two weeks, after the EU makes some minor adjustments to its proposals. Poland, meanwhile, has been demanding an 18-year transition period. The Czech Republic and Hungary are also leaning towards agreeing to the EU proposal of a seven-year waiting period during which member countries are not obliged to allow workers from new member states onto their labor markets. Poland's chief accession negotiator, Jan Kulakowski, has said that Poland is not ready to make such concessions. Out of the six countries which began EU accession talks in March 1998 Poland, with 13, has the most negotiation chapters left to close. (Rzeczpospolita, June 2-3, p. A1) T.J.