Poland lags in latest EU negotiations

Though a major chapter has been closed, Poland is still behind the pack in the race to EU accession.
By : Jeffrey Sparshott

   Poland closed the European Union (EU) negotiation chapter on social policy and employment Friday in Brussels, according to Swedish officials, bringing to 16 the number of negotiating areas closed but still leaving it behind other nations who made further progress in talks.

   “This has been an intensive and successful week when it comes to enlargement,” said Swedish Ambassador Gunnar Lund. “The Swedish Presidency has been able to broker agreements among member states in relation to the Free Movement of Workers and Capital Chapters. We have today engaged in discussions on these chapters with the candidate countries and we have been able to provisionally close the chapter of free movement of capital with the Czech Republic. We have also been able to close the environment chapter with another three countries. This is significant and very welcome progress.”

   Free movement of capital covers land purchases, a sensitive issue for Poland. The EU proposed a seven-year transition before foreigners can purchase property in acceding nations, while Poland wants 18 years.

   Poland, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Malta, and Slovenia met with EU officials in Brussels Friday. Similar meetings were also held May 17 with Cyprus, Romania, Slovakia, Latvia, Lithuania and Bulgaria. During the meetings today, 21 common positions on negotiating chapters were dealt with, 12 of these were provisionally closed, Swedish officials said in a press release. There are 31 chapters that must be closed before accession would be possible.

   Slovenia closed the environmental chapter in March. The Czech Republic, Hungary and Estonia closed it Friday.

   Free Movement of Goods, Energy and Freedom to Provide Services were closed with Malta, Social Policy and Employment with the Czech Republic and Poland, Culture and Audiovisual and External Relations with Slovenia, and Customs Union with Hungary.

   During the Swedish presidency, further meetings within the framework of the Accession Conference will be held at ministerial level on June 11-12.