Poland

1) REFERENCES

Commission Opinion [COM(97) 2002 final - Not published in the Official Journal]Commission Report [COM(98) 701 final - Not published in the Official Journal]Commission Report [COM(1999) 509 final - Not published in the Official Journal]Commission Report [COM(2000) 709 final - Not published in the Official Journal]Commission Report [COM(2001) 700 final - SEC (2001) 1752 - Not published in the Official Journal]Commission Report [COM(2002) 700 final - SEC (2002) 1408 - Not published in the Official Journal]Commission Report [COM(2003) 675 final - SEC(2003) 1207 - Not published in the Official Journal]Treaty of Accession to the European Union [Official Journal L 236 of 23.09.2003]

2) SUMMARY

In its July 1997 Opinion, the European Commission concluded that the transposal of EU legislation in Poland was still some way from completion, although significant progress had been made in adopting the measures listed in the 1995 White Paper White Paper on the countries of central and eastern Europe and the Internal Market..

The conclusions of the November 1998 Report were largely in the same vein, highlighting the need for greater progress on alignment, especially to meet the short-term priorities of the Accession Partnership. Greater effort was also needed in rural development and restructuring the agri-food industry. Other priorities included the modernisation of veterinary and plant health facilities. Progress in the fisheries sector was not considered satisfactory.

The October 1999 Report took a similar line to the two previous reports. It highlighted the diverse challenges posed by the integration of Poland's farm sector into the European Union. While the country had taken a step in the right direction by adopting a structural policy for agriculture, it would still take a substantial amount of work before this could be considered truly efficient. And despite some progress in adopting EU legislation, notably in the veterinary and plant-health sectors, no work had yet been done as regards the planning and budgetary arrangements for the required national and regional institutions. The situation in the fisheries sector was still unsatisfactory - there was no further progress to report in the implementation of EU legislation. The priority was still the adoption of a restructuring policy and accompanying programme.

The November 2000 Report found that little progress had been made since the previous report - substantial work remained to be done at both legislative and institutional level. Significant outstanding tasks included clarifying the role to be played by the institutions that would be implementing the EAGGF, setting up the IACS (Integrated Administration and Control System) as required by EU legislation and introducing product-promotion policies. Poland had also to make arrangements for introducing the FADN (Farm Accountancy Data Network) and align the management system for the market-organisation regimes with EU legislation. No further progress had been made since the previous report in the task of aligning veterinary and plant-health legislation. In the fisheries sector, progress had also been minimal - Poland needed to increase its capacity to implement the fisheries policy and introduce a control and management policy in line with EU law.

The November 2001 Report highlighted the redoubled efforts made by Poland to adopt EU farming legislation. However, levels of preparation and implementation of EU structures are not as yet sufficient.

In fisheries, as stated in the November 2001 report, Poland has adopted a Fisheries Act, on the basis of which the legal instruments implementing the bulk of the relevant EU legislation can be introduced. Progress in other fields has been negligible, with the exception of market-management policy, where a division with responsibility for market organisation has been set up within the Fisheries Department.

The October 2002 report highlighted the efforts made by Poland to align its legislation. However, little progress was made in strengthening administrative capacity and veterinary legislation. The main achievement in fisheries is that Poland has adopted a Fisheries Act which should make it possible to organise access to waters. Otherwise, progress has been made in the fields of administrative capacity, resource management, inspection and monitoring and structural assistance.

The November 2003 report shows that Poland is falling behind in several sectors. A satisfactory level has been achieved in few fields. In fisheries, Poland must act urgently do what is necessary.

COMMUNITY ACQUIS

The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is designed to maintain and develop a modern farming system that ensures both a fair standard of living for farmers and a supply of food at reasonable prices for consumers, as well as guaranteeing free movement of goods within the EU.

The Europe Agreement, which provides the legal basis for agricultural trade between Poland and the EU, aims to promote cooperation on modernising, restructuring and privatising Poland's farming and food sectors and its plant-health standards. The 1995 White Paper on the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and the Internal Market covers legislation on veterinary, plant-health and animal-nutrition controls, as well as marketing requirements for individual commodities. The purpose of this legislation is to protect consumers, public health and animal and plant health.

The Common Fisheries Policy covers market-organisation regimes, structural policy, agreements with non-member countries, management and conservation of fish stocks and scientific research in support of these activities.

Trade with the EU in fishery products is covered in the Europe Agreement but not the White Paper.

EVALUATION

Agriculture

Poland is living up to its commitments with regard to quality policy, organic farming, the farm accountancy data network and state aids. The same is true of the common market organisations with the exception of milk, beef and veal, eggs and poultry. The measures relating to trade mechanisms are only partially being respected. With very few exceptions, Poland is meeting the commitments it has made in the veterinary and plant health sectors. Unless it adopts drastic measures, Poland is not going to make up its backlog concerning: the setting up of Paying Agencies; implementing the Integrated Administration and Control System; combating transmissible spongiform encephalopathies; animal by-products; movement control of animals and combating organisms harmful to plants.

Fisheries

Poland is partially fulfilling its obligations on structural assistance, state aids and international fishing agreements. Some adjustments must be made to expand the administrative capacity needed to manage structural policy. Poland is withdrawing from international fishing agreements. Poland must urgently focus on resource and fleet management as well as inspection and control and market policy. Unless it takes immediate action to strengthen its administrative capacity, reinforce its legislation and make up the backlog constantly accumulated, Poland will not be ready in time.

Last updated: 27.02.2004