Sejm debate divided into pro- and anti-EU sentiment groups

A debate which took place in the Sejm yesterday on four new resolutions concerning EU integration, rapidly deteriorated into a dispute over the point of joining the Union, the future of Poland, and the final stage of the negotiations process. The discussion revealed three informal political formations: the pro-European Democratic Left Alliance (SLD), Labor Union (UP), and the Civic Platform (PO), with some support from the Polish Peasants Party (PSL); the Law and Justice (PiS) party which at the same time both supports EU membership and rejects the idea; and the anti-European coalition of Self-Defence (Samoobrona), Movement for the Reconstruction of Poland (ROP), Polish Family League (LPR), and the National Catholic Party (KKN). "Poland's priority was and will be to obtain the most advantageous terms of EU membership," said Danuta Huebner, the European Affairs Minister. "Other candidate countries want to return to closed negotiation phases, citing the results obtained by Poland," added Leszek Miller in her support. "Self-Defence is not an anti-European party and it never will be. It is a serious party which thinks about the future of Poland, not only for us but also for the generations to follow," said Samoobrona's Andrzej Lepper. (Gazeta Wyborcza, p. 3; Rzeczpospolita, p. A4) A.K.