Report reveals EU structural aid for Poland will amount to euro 14 billion

According to a confidential European Commission (EC) document obtained by Rzeczpospolita, Poland will receive from euro 13.564 billion to euro 14.161 billion of European Union (EU) structural aid between 2004 and 2006. The proposal will become official in May or June, when the 15 member countries approve the aid budget for candidate states during the first three years after their EU accession. The EC plans to allocate to Poland some 54% of the total euro 25.567 billion set aside for the ten candidate countries expected to join the EU in 2004. A significant part of the structural aid will be used by Poland for the development and modernization of its infrastructure, including highways, rapid rail routes, power lines, and environmental protection facilities. Of the 15 existing EU members only Spain, with around euro 8 billion a year, is expected to receive more structural aid than Poland in 2004 to 2006. (Rzeczpospolita, p. B1) P.W.