Poland - Agriculture

Short-term priorities:

Agriculture

• definition of a coherent rural development and structural policy;
• adoption of implementing regulations;
• introduction and application of veterinary and plant health rules, especially as regards inspection and control with a view to protecting the European Union's external borders;
• upgrading of certain food-processing plants (milk and meat sectors) and certain testing and diagnostic facilities.

Assessment (October 1999)

Very few aspects of the short-term priorities for agriculture have been implemented.

Progress has been made on reorganising the veterinary and plant health services. In July 1999 the Polish Government adopted a text on agricultural structural policy which is a first step towards a rural development policy. The Polish authorities must ensure, however, that this policy adequately meets the requirements for accession. Limited progress has been made in upgrading certain food-processing plants and diagnostic facilities.

Assessment (November 2000)

The rural development plan has been adopted but its implementation is still not far advanced. The obstacles to imports have been increased. Competitiveness must be improved. Little progress has been made on the priorities relating to control arrangements and the improvement of diagnostic and testing facilities. Veterinary and plant health legislation has not been aligned with the Community's.

Assessment (November 2001)

The rural development plan is still being introduced. Efforts have been made as regards removing tariff barriers, inspection, testing and diagnostic facilities and the alignment of veterinary and plant health legislation. Special attention must be paid to non-tariff barriers and competitiveness.

Assessment (October 2002)

Poland must strengthen its border controls and modernise its facilities.

Fisheries

• accelerated preparation of a fisheries policy and restructuring plan;
• drafting of an integrated development programme with a view to providing appropriate institutional structures and sufficient resources and facilities for the inspections;
• introduction of a fleet register.

Assessment (November 2000)

The process of drafting a fisheries policy and restructuring plan has been speeded up. Little progress has been made on providing the administrative structures, resources or facilities needed for the inspections, or on introducing a fleet register.

Assessment (November 2001)

Preparation of a coherent fisheries policy and a restructuring programme has been completed. However, little progress has been made on introducing the facilities necessary for inspection and control at central and regional level or on creating a fleet register.

Assessment (November 2003)

Please refer to the fact sheets on the adoption of the Community acquis.

Medium-term priorities:

Agriculture

• adoption of the Community acquis (notably in the veterinary and plant health fields and as regards external border controls in particular);
• implementation of the structural and rural development policy;
• development of capacity to implement and apply the common agricultural policy (CAP), notably in terms of administrative structures and the basic management mechanisms for supervising the agricultural markets and for implementing the structural and rural development measures;
• adoption and implementation of veterinary and plant health rules;
• upgrading of certain food-processing plants and testing and diagnostic facilities;
• restructuring of the agri-food industry.

Assessment (October 1999)

Little progress has been noted in the agricultural area, notably regarding the adoption of the acquis in the veterinary and plant health fields.

Assessment (November 2000)

Improvements have been noted as regards the milk and meat processing plants.

Assessment (November 2001)

A start has been made on implementing the rural development plan. Major efforts are needed as regards administrative structures, the upgrading of certain food-processing plants and the introduction of veterinary and phytosanitary control posts at the borders. No progress has been recorded as regards livestock identification, quality control, waste treatment and programmes to control waste and zoonoses. The national laboratory project has not advanced.

Assessment (October 2002)

Alignment with the acquis has not been completed and administrative capacities have not been adjusted. Efforts must continue, particularly in the veterinary area. The integrated administration and control system must be set up.

Fisheries

• development of capacity to implement and monitor the common fisheries policy.

Assessment (October 1999)

In the case of fisheries, a programme to establish a fisheries policy and to restructure the industry is slowly taking shape. The administrative resources devoted to management and inspection are practically non-existent.

Assessment (November 2000)

No progress on these priorities has been noted.

Assessment (November 2001)

Minimal progress has been made on the priorities as regards legislation, institutional means or resources.

Assessment (October 2002)

Progress has been made on alignment with the acquis and strengthening administrative capacity. Efforts must continue.

Assessment (November 2003)

Please refer to the fact sheets on the adoption of the Community acquis.

Following the signing of the Accession Treaty on 16 April 2003, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia acceded to the European Union on 1 May 2004.

REFERENCES

Council Decision 98/260/EC of 30.03.1998

Official Journal L 121, 23.04.1998

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, 23.09.2003]

Last updated: 19.11.2004