Szlazak determined that Poland won't concede to EU regarding steel output

The original draft of the steel sector restructuring plan envisaged limiting the output to 13.5 million tonnes. However, after the two largest steel mills, Huta Katowice S.A. and Huta im. Tadeusz Sendzimira S.A., signed an agreement in which Sendzimir would limit production, the output total was lowered to 12.8 million. This is the figure that Szlazak says Poland will stand by in its negotiations with the EU. However, the EU claims this amount is too high citing the Polish government as overestimating domestic demand for steel. Poland must present the modified steel restructuring plan to the EU before Sept. 15. The plan provides for 40,000 people, or half of the sector's work force, to lose their jobs, but no steel mills will to be closed. The mills will be privatized by the end of 2001. (Gazeta Wyborcza, page 18, Rzeczpospolita, page B2)