Progress is made in last-chance EU negotiations with Buzek's government

The thirteenth session of Poland's European Union entry negotiations proved successful, with the EU reportedly very satisfied with the progress made. "In recent weeks and months, we have made huge progress in talks with Poland. We have been able to discuss several areas on a technical level, which will help us find solutions, and we have closed talks in many of them," said Eneko Landabru, European Commission's highest accession commissioner. He added that the target date of late 2002 for concluding talks is realistic, which would likely mean that Poland would be among the first group of countries to join the EU. Landabru's comments gave huge relief as in recent months there were some doubts about the projected conclusion date, after Poland had fallen behind such countries as Czech Republic, Hungary or Estonia in accession talks. Poland now appears to be considering easing its stance in some areas, such as its unprecedented demand for an 18-year transition period before allowing EU citizens to buy Polish land. Friday's negotiation session was Poland's last before the September parliamentary elections. (Rzeczpospolita, July 28-29, p. A1) T.J.