Polish Peasants threaten to bring down coalition

The Polish Peasants Party (PSL) threatened yesterday to bring down the ruling coalition and oppose EU entry in next year's referendum unless Brussels offers Polish farmers more money in last-minute enlargement talks. PSL leader Jaroslaw Kalinowski toughened his line saying final concessions made by Denmark did not ensure Polish farmers could compete when they join the Union in May 2004. "If conditions do not improve, I am sure PSL will be unable to back a 'Yes' vote in the referendum," Kalinowski, who is also agriculture minister, told a news conference. His backing for whatever deal is struck on entry terms at the EU's Copenhagen summit in two weeks time will be vital to persuading the large and skeptical rural community to vote for enlargement next year. "We do not want miracles but we believe a better deal can be reached under the existing budget ceiling," added Kalinowski. Polish rejection of EU membership would be a grievous blow to the historic project and would badly hit financial markets, which have bet heavily on Poland's entry to the EU and eventually to the euro-zone. (Rzeczpospolita, pp. A1, A3; Reuters) M.M.