Top officials confident of Poland's progress towards EU membership

European Union (EU) Enlargement Commissioner Guenter Verheugen and European Commission President Romano Prodi have both said that Poland's EU accession talks should be wrapped up next year. Speaking yesterday at the Europa-Forum conference in Warsaw, Verheugen said, "Poland is among the front runners and it is absolutely possible to conclude negotiations before the end of next year." Prodi welcomed the new government's commitment to achieving early EU membership, saying, "I am confident that Poland will confirm this commitment in the forthcoming negotiations." In related news, Gazeta Wyborcza has gained access to a European Commission report on Poland's progress towards EU membership. In the report, due to be published in six days, the EU gives Poland a positive evaluation, although there is some criticism of its administrative and judicial systems. (Gazeta Wyborcza, p. 4; Reuters) A.Z.