Poland still involved in lengthy talks with European Union over agriculture

Ministry of economy teams up with a company to promote polish businesses The Ministry of Economy has linked up with a company to create a vehicle for promoting Polish businesses abroad. "Polish Houses" are to be established so companies can collaborate in building stands at trade expositions in order to have a stronger presence. The first Polish House to be created is devoted to the furniture sector and will debut in Lublana, Slovenia. Slovenia has been chosen because of its already established interest in Polish furniture, and the fact that Polish companies in general don't have a big presence in the Balkan region. The ministry has received 10 proposals for the creation of more Polish Houses. (Rzeczpospolita page B3) A.D. Poland entered another round of negotiations with the European Union (EU) yesterday on the last, but the most difficult, stage regarding agriculture. Poland is hoping to complete all negotiations by 2001. Foreign Minister Bronislaw Geremek said, "Poland still wants the EU to decide soon on the likely date of its enlargement." He also stressed, however, if this were to discourage France and Germany, the advocates of Poland's accession, then he wouldn't press the case. Geremek acknowledges the fact that Poland is still a long way from achieving compliance with EU agricultural and legal policies and the suspension of talks over mutual liberalization of agricultural trade does not help the process. Geremek plans to set up a Sejm commission to ensure compliance of the Polish legal system with EU requirements. (Prawo i Gospodarka, page 6) P.S.