Second No would 'disappoint' Poland

Poland's minister for European affairs said in Dublin yesterday that a second Irish No to the Nice Treaty would be "a huge and terrible disappointment" for Poles.

It would disrupt the tight negotiating and accession timetable now in place to bring Poland into the EU by January 2004 and could affect Poland's forthcoming referendum on joining, according to Ms Danuta Hubner. She spoke to journalists before addressing the National Forum on Europe and meeting the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen.

Poles are currently very sensitive about what others say and feel about them - "they want to feel welcome and invited". No matter what the real reasons would be for such a decision by the Irish electorate, Poles would feel the Irish do not want enlargement.

She hoped the Government's efforts to clarify and address fears about neutrality and democratic accountability would be found acceptable by the voters.

Ms Hubner explained that her government is entering the final stage of negotiations on joining the EU, including direct payments and agriculture. If these are successfully dealt with, it would expect to sign the accession agreement next spring, have a referendum after that and see it ratified in time to join the EU on January 1st, 2004.

Ms Hubner rejected the suggestion that Poland and the other accession states are being offered a second-class membership of the EU, as is argued by opponents of the Nice Treaty in Ireland. They have voluntarily sought transition periods to adjust weaker economies to tough standards on the environment, for example, as previous states joining the EU have done. They hope to optimise agricultural beyond the current offer of 25 per cent of what is available to EU farmers. Otherwise they intend to participate as full equals in its structures.

Poles did most of their migration in the past decade and there is no potential for a new outflow. "They are returning home for new work opportunities; it is even difficult to get them to move between different regions of their own country when these become available."

The National Forum on Europe was also addressed yesterday by Dr Jan Zahradril, former shadow foreign minister of the Czech Republic. He had some reservations about his country's entry to the EU, although he believed it is a necessity. "There are two kinds of marriage - marriages of love and marriages of convenience. I would say that the Czech Republic's accession to the EU is a marriage of the second kind."