Commission chiefs fear Polish influence on future EU policy

Date: 02/10/03

SENIOR European Commission officials fear that enlargement of the EU will put the brakes on progress within the Union.

They have also voiced concern about the approach that Poland, the biggest accession country, will adopt towards future EU policy.

These are among the key findings of a survey of more than 30 high-ranking Commission civil servants on the effect they believe enlargement will have on how the Union functions in policy areas that impact on business.

Most respondents - heads of unit or above - predict there will be a period of conflict over the distribution of EU funds after ten new members join the Union next May.

Commenting on whether the current limit of 1.27% of total EU gross domestic product for the Union's budget would suffice, one official said: “We need much more if we want to really integrate the new members.”

Officials also predict an alliance between the ten accession countries and southern member states to keep the sum spent on structural funds, pumping cash into poorer regions, as high as possible.

On Poland, officials across the Commission services said they felt nervous about dealing with what one termed “another Spain”.

“The Poles will be major laggards and they're the ones who will argue most,” said another.

In the field of environment, the bosses warn that the new states will “put the brakes on quite early” and, on the social front, “the overall level of ambition is lower”.

Officials, however, believe enlargement will bring benefits in certain areas, including information technology, telecom and trade.

On the constitution, those questioned do not think the draft treaty drawn up by the European Convention goes far enough in terms of institutional change.

The survey was carried out by Simon Taylor, formerly chief reporter with European Voice, in conjunction with Brussels-based communications agency Burson-Marsteller.

It was launched at Tuesday's 'New Europe' conference, which was hosted by this paper, and will be distributed to EU institutions and policymakers.

Jeremy Galbraith, CEO of Burson-Marsteller Brussels, said: “There is a feeling among Commission officials that enlargement could slow the pace of progress while the EU digests its new partners.

“The enlargement countries will also dramatically impact upon policy development in numerous areas.”

Senior European Commission officials are concerned about the approach that Poland will adopt towards future European Union policy once it becomes a Member State in 2004.