Poland has moved its target date for European Union entry from 2003 to 2004 because the bloc is dragging its feet on enlargement talks, the country's European Integration Minister said today.
|
|
|
"We have urged Sweden, the EU's current president, for a breakthough in accession negotiations . . . It has not come," Polish Prime Minister Mr Jerzy Buzek told a news conference.
"The year 2003 has therefore become unrealistic as our entry goal. The more realistic date is 2004."
He added Poland would likely delay some costly reforms needed to upgrade its legislation, industry and infrastructure to EU standards because the entry target had been pushed back.
Meanwhile the EU has drafted plans to recruit its first new members by the 2004 elections to the European Parliament. But some diplomats are worried that a recent row among EU member-states over money and jobs could delay enlargement.
Many politicians in Poland and other EU hopefuls fear accession talks may not make significant progress until after elections are held next year in France and Germany - where EU enlargement enjoys limited popular support.
The EU expansion process suffered a setback last week, when Spain demanded continued access to large EU structural funds.
Madrid opposed a deal proposed by Germany to delay the free movement of workers from eastern Europe to put pressure on other states for a promise of future EU regional aid.
Spain, one of the poorer EU states, fears it may lose out financially after enlargement if funds are diverted to new members like Poland or the Czech Republic which have lower living standards.