The week's events covered in Poland AM
ECONOMICS
Economy Minister Jerzy Hausner said that while the country will be ready to meet the Maastricht criteria in 2008-2009, this is not a main objective of the government's economic policy. He added that next year's budget deficit would be lower than envisaged by zł.3 billion.
The Finance Ministry is about to become a market player on the forex market. It will use a European Investment Bank loan of about €250 million to buy back złoty and help lower the national debt.
Swissmed Centrum Zdrowia is holding talks with five investors interested in the purchase of its convertible bonds. By mid-January, SCZ intends to issue convertible bonds of zł.17.5 million and subsequently make a debut on the Warsaw Stock Exchange.
Between January-November, the sale of new cars increased by over 13 percent to 320,551 units, as compared to 283,325 cars in the same period of 2002.
Representatives of capital market institutions argue that the Finance Minister has the power to halt the capital gains tax law which will come into force on January 1. Analysts have warned that trade on the floor will collapse for at least the first quarter of 2004.
POLITICS
Former Health Minister Mariusz Łapiński claims that he is being attacked because he tried to challenge the way that drugs are sold, registered and priced. He believes that a Sejm investigation commission would be a good way to prove his innocence.
The Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) has hinted that it may allow the opposition to appoint their own candidates to the Monetary Policy Council (RPP).
Sejm Deputies proposed that all lobbying organizations be required to keep a register and notes of all the meetings they hold.
It is very likely that in January, Jerzy Jaskiernia will be replaced as the leader of the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) Parliamentary Club. The reason given is his support for Andrzej Lepper to become a member of the Rywin Commission, while others say "he crossed the line" with reference to corruption allegations in connection with amendments to the Gambling Law.
INTERNaTIONAL
US Undersecretary of Defense Douglas Feith met with Defense Minister Jerzy Szmajdziński to discuss the possible relocating of US bases from Germany to Poland. Although no details of the discussion were disclosed, press rumors circulated that US bases could be located close to a Polish Air Force Base near Poznań.
DOMESTIC
Józef Fedosiuk, the Gdańsk District Prosecutor said that there is no evidence that SLD Deputy Jerzy Jakskiernia was handed a $10 million bribe in exchange for an amendment to the Gambling Law. As a result, the prosecutor plans to abandon this line of investigation.
The International Intellectual Property Association has named Poland as one of the top ten markets for pirated goods, stating that producers lose almost $500 million on this market due to lack of action by law enforcement agencies, as well as social acceptance of such goods.
Economy Minister Jerzy Hausner said that while the country will be ready to meet the Maastricht criteria in 2008-2009, this is not a main objective of the government's economic policy. He added that next year's budget deficit would be lower than envisaged by zł.3 billion.
The Finance Ministry is about to become a market player on the forex market. It will use a European Investment Bank loan of about €250 million to buy back złoty and help lower the national debt.
Swissmed Centrum Zdrowia is holding talks with five investors interested in the purchase of its convertible bonds. By mid-January, SCZ intends to issue convertible bonds of zł.17.5 million and subsequently make a debut on the Warsaw Stock Exchange.
Between January-November, the sale of new cars increased by over 13 percent to 320,551 units, as compared to 283,325 cars in the same period of 2002.
Representatives of capital market institutions argue that the Finance Minister has the power to halt the capital gains tax law which will come into force on January 1. Analysts have warned that trade on the floor will collapse for at least the first quarter of 2004.
POLITICS
Former Health Minister Mariusz Łapiński claims that he is being attacked because he tried to challenge the way that drugs are sold, registered and priced. He believes that a Sejm investigation commission would be a good way to prove his innocence.
The Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) has hinted that it may allow the opposition to appoint their own candidates to the Monetary Policy Council (RPP).
Sejm Deputies proposed that all lobbying organizations be required to keep a register and notes of all the meetings they hold.
It is very likely that in January, Jerzy Jaskiernia will be replaced as the leader of the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) Parliamentary Club. The reason given is his support for Andrzej Lepper to become a member of the Rywin Commission, while others say "he crossed the line" with reference to corruption allegations in connection with amendments to the Gambling Law.
INTERNaTIONAL
US Undersecretary of Defense Douglas Feith met with Defense Minister Jerzy Szmajdziński to discuss the possible relocating of US bases from Germany to Poland. Although no details of the discussion were disclosed, press rumors circulated that US bases could be located close to a Polish Air Force Base near Poznań.
DOMESTIC
Józef Fedosiuk, the Gdańsk District Prosecutor said that there is no evidence that SLD Deputy Jerzy Jakskiernia was handed a $10 million bribe in exchange for an amendment to the Gambling Law. As a result, the prosecutor plans to abandon this line of investigation.
The International Intellectual Property Association has named Poland as one of the top ten markets for pirated goods, stating that producers lose almost $500 million on this market due to lack of action by law enforcement agencies, as well as social acceptance of such goods.
