Special Economic Zones won't suffer EU stringencies

Deputy minister for European Integration Jaroslaw Pietras has assured companies operating in Polish Special Economic Zones (SSEs) they need not suffer from the EU-adjusted regulations Poland must adopt before joining the union. Some time ago the EU demanded that all companies operating in special economic zones submit to more stringent regulations. Yet Poland says this will not harm investors who began operating in the zones before Jan. 1, 2001, the date the regulations took effect. The issue is one of the biggest bones of contention between the EU and Poland in discussions concerning common competition policy. Pietras also admitted that Poland might consider faster approval of EU laws regarding patent protection of medicines. In related news, deputy economy minister Teresa Malecka has announced that at the beginning of April the government will decide whether it will ask for a three-year transition period for the gas market to reach the degree of liberalization required by the EU. The ministry is now waiting for opinions from Polish Oil and Gas(PGN), as well as from independent experts. (Rzeczpospolita, 24-25 March, p.B2) J.K.