BRUSSELS, Belgium – Poland has sealed a key agreement with the European
Union on land sales to foreigners, clearing a major obstacle on its way
to membership in the wealthy bloc.
But Warsaw, by far the biggest of the 12 applicant states negotiating
for EU entry, conceded that the toughest talks, dealing with aid to
farmers and poor regions, still lay ahead.
“This (deal on land sales) represents a breakthrough. This chapter …
has been the most difficult politically and psychologically in our
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federal government proposed several months ago to increase the compensation rate from 80 to 90 per cent and double the maximum payment from $3 million to $6 million
negotiations with Poland so far,” said EU enlargement commissioner
Guenter Verheugen.
Polish prime minister Leszek Miller hailed the deal as proof of his
leftist government’s pragmatism.
“We can say that pragmatism and realism defeated emotionalism. Closing
the chapters today keeps the Polish government on its timetable for
finishing negotiations by the year’s end,” Miller said.
The issue of land sales to foreigners is politically sensitive for
Poland because of its long history of domination by more powerful
neighbours and its fears that wealthy west Europeans will rush to buy
its rich arable land.
Under the March 21 deal, Poland will be able to restrict land sales for
up to 12 years after accession.
But EU farmers leasing Polish land will have an option to buy it, with
the owner’s consent, after a transition period of three or seven years,
depending on the region.
Miller said he was aware of criticisms that farmers would be sold out
in the rush to join the EU, “but these are simply fears and myths which
are being whipped up by opponents of European integration,” said
Miller, who plans to hold a referendum next year on joining the EU.
