Poland promised EU funding to help with agricultural modernization

"Sapard", a European Union (EU) fund that aims to help candidate countries restructure their agricultural sectors, has promised Poland euro 168 million annually until its integration into the EU. It has also promised an advance payment of euro 45 million, to be handed over by the end of the year. The money is designed to help Poland bring its countryside up to EU standards, specifically through projects to build rural roads, lay water pipes and telephone lines, and fight rural unemployment. However, before the money can be handed over, Poland must first meet a series of conditions. One of these was fulfilled yesterday when Polish representatives completed a two-day presentation on the plans for managing the fund's money. Poland will also be visited by a number of inspectors from the European Commission, and will have to submit full documentation on the distribution of the Sapard Fund's money. (Gazeta Wyborcza, p. 21) A.K.