With development below 75% of EU average, each region qualifies for aid

In no Polish voivodeship does development exceed 75% of the EU average; thus Lubelskie Voivodeship would be one of the 10 poorest regions if the Union were enlarged to include the 12 candidate states, according to data published yesterday by Eurostat. The other nine poor regions are located in Romania and Bulgaria. EU aid will be granted to Polish regions whose development level is lower than 75% of the EU average, and thus all would currently receive such support. In 1999, Poland attained 39% of the average EU development level. (Rzeczpospolita, p.2) M. S.-C.