Sugar deal sealed

   One of the most controversial topics in the agriculture sector in 2000 was the indecision over sugar privatization. For much of the year, there was a standoff between the government and Polski Cukier, a national sugar company that would have kept unsold mills in Polish hands. But in November, France's Saint Louis Sucre was finally allowed to purchase the 16 mills in the country's largest sugar holding, Slaska Spolka Cukrowa.

   During 2000, sugar was a powerful political commodity. In January, the conflict over sugar played a key role in bringing about the first no-confidence vote against former Treasury Minister Emil Wasacz. By summer, sugar was also the political football that determined that value-added tax (VAT) would be introduced by September for farmers after Polski Cukier proponents cast the swing votes in exchange for promises that the company could be the subject of political resuscitation. But Poland paid a heavy price for the sugar sector blues. Fed up with the politics, one of Europe's largest sugar producers, Denmark's Danisco, pulled out of the country.

   Other key moments of the past year for the nation's agriculture sector include the conclusion of talks over the liberalization of trade between Poland and the European Union (EU) and the opening of the long-awaited chapter on agriculture in Poland's bid to join the EU. In the former, Polish negotiators proved they possess a mean poker face and are willing to hold out for key concessions from the EU. This savvy demeanor bodes well for the country next year as it gets down to the nuts and bolts in talks over what place Polish farmers will have in the EU's Common Agriculture Policy. If those talks move ahead, if the government and farmers move to restructure the sector and if parliamentarians hustle to bring Polish law books regulating the sector in line with EU norms, next year could be the year of the Polish farmer.

   But judging from events in the sugar sector during 2000, farmers will probably have a long wait before they celebrate their own banner year.