[autom.vertaling] Het gebrekoplossing van Polen en van Hongarije nog (en)
According to the Polish chief negotiator, there is reasonable prospect of provisionally closing the competition chapter at the next negotiation round on 18 November in Brussels.
Meaning that Poland and the EU will have to work out a compromise concerning the future of the Polish steel industry; the restructuring of the sector and reducing its current production capacity. Also to be worked out are the privileges given to foreign investors in so-called Special Economic Zones. Poland and Hungary are, to date, the only candidates not to have concluded talks on competition.
Poland was the last country that had the consultation meeting with Danish Presidency and the European Commission to define the nature of problems left on the table. For Jan Truszczynski, the Polish chief negotiator this was opportunity to present arguments in support of country's position paper. Issues concerning opened and re-opened chapters were discussed, including chapters on budget, agriculture, taxation, competition and environment.
Hungary for its part has promised defend jobs in EU negotiations. The EU would like to eliminate tax reductions already given by post-communist countries in order to attract direct foreign investments. Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Medgyessy pointed out that the short time for concluding the negotiation does not enable a debate on concessions given by the country to foreign investors who create jobs in Hungary. "We must say that if we are not able to reach a provisional agreement we will go by the end. We may leave the chapter opened even till the Copenhagen summit", the Prime Minister said in last weekend in the Nepszabadsag newspaper.
Following last month's decision by IBM to close its manufacturing plant in Szekesfehervar and consequently shed 2100 some jobs, some Hungarians are now worried that other foreign investors will withdraw from the country.
Another problem for applicant countries is the harmonisation of VAT rates. The Polish government was obliged later this spring by a parliamentary resolution to re-open a chapter on taxation. Warsaw has requested a reduced VAT rate on housing to be applied during transitional period. Poland would also see a transition period on harmonisation VAT rates on agriculture production equipment, services and commodities. The chapter on taxation was initially closed last year.
Another Polish problem concerns processing the milk by the one company using both - compliant and non-compliant milk. Further consultation are said to be necessary in this area. As Warsaw wants more than 200 milk factories to be included in the transition, Brussels would see the number limited to the minimum. Poland has been also forced to open-up the chapter on the environment, provisionally closed late last year. This reopening results from an adjustment to the acquis, due to a new directive on large combustion plants directive with stricter emission standards on power plants. According to Mr Truszczynski a long transition would be necessary for fulfilling goals of the directive.
As the EU financial offer is not thought as a generous by majority of Polish farmers, the government intends to improve production quotas and reference periods, at least. "Without going into details I must say that there is definitely additional room for a discussion and consequently room for improvement in this area," Poland's chief negotiator said.
However, he added, "some rules must be respected, including a rule of historical data for a basis to estimation." Warsaw main aim is to secure such financing for farmers so as to prevent them from deteriorating their income and competitive position after EU accession. Poland and the EU agreed to work on methodology for assessment of financial transfers to and from EU budget of would-be EU members.