President holds Cabinet Council meeting to discuss critical EC report

Following the critical report published by the European Commission concerning the state of readiness of candidate countries to join the EU in May 2004, President Aleksander Kwaśniewski held a meeting of his Cabinet Council. During a press conference after the meeting, Kwaśniewski said that he personally could evaluate Poland's stand at four minus. "The most important thing is to accept the report and understand that it is more of a hint at what we should be focusing on," he said, adding that the government's unquestioned priority at the moment is preparing the country to join the Union, and there should be no discussion concerning personnel changes. "The government, headed by Leszek Miller, should have all the available space it needs and sense of security it requires to help ensure Poland's accession as soon as possible," said Kwaśniewski. The President's optimistic view was shared by the Prime Minister who announced that joining the EU on time was not under threat. (Gazeta Wyborcza, p. 22) A.K.