Poland: membership application and partnership, 8 April 1994

The Committee has adopted the report on the progress made towards accession by Poland. Overall, while the report draws attention to the remaining problems, it welcomes the progress achieved. However, it also stresses that the reforms being made by these countries must be accompanied by measures to alleviate their social consequences. On Poland (rapporteur: Magdalene HOFF, PES, D), the committee welcomes the rapid progress made in the screening of the acquis communautaire and considers that the changes which have already come into force should enable Polish law to be brought into line with the acquis. Privatisation of large state-owned companies must continue and the Polish farming sector must be completely overhauled, above all to make it more environmentally-friendly. The report highlights Poland's backwardness in environmental legislation on air, water, noise and chemical pollution. It welcomes the government's planned information campaign on EU accession and urges the Polish Parliament to carry on promoting a favourable image of the EU despite the high social costs for many people of modernisation and the accession preparations. Lastly, it calls on the Polish Government to draw up a firm, practical timetable for conducting and completing the negotiations.�