Polish ecologists warn of dangers of introducing European Union regulations

Polish ecologists warn that introducing European regulations may prove harmful to the Polish environment. According to the chief of the Center for Environmental Legislation in Wroclaw Jerzy Jendroska, European regulations are generally better than Poland's but if introduced too hastily may cause problems. Ecologists mainly criticize the policy of fighting the effects of pollution not their causes. They also support enhancing the rail network instead of the more popular European bias toward highways. Environmental protection will be one of the most costly investments associated with entering the European Union (EU). The costs have been increasing at a significant rate from zl. 400 million in 1990 to zl. 9 billion in 1999 and have been financed mainly by private business and local governments. The World Bank estimates that Poland still needs to spend about zl. 90 billion to zl.180 billion. Poland has two years to introduce about 300 EU regulations. In 14 cases it will apply for a transition period. (Gazeta Wyborcza, page 28) E.B.