Commission Report (2002): Poland

Economic criteria

Considerable efforts have been made to maintain macroeconomic and budgetary stability and there has been further progress on the institutional framework for the market economy and sound economic policy management.

Legislative measures have been taken which seek to provide an environment in which the competitiveness of the Polish economy can be improved, with a particular focus on SME development and human resources development measures. The first steps towards further structural reforms are underway in particular improving the functioning of labour markets, progress in privatisation has been less marked.

Steps have been taken to facilitate a coherent, comprehensive restructuring of the steel sector; in the Coal sector progress has been less marked whereas efforts to restructure the railways are broadly encouraging.

There have been further improvements in the functioning of the land market and the development of the property register as set out in the action plan.

Overall, the Accession Partnership priorities with regard to the economic criteria have been met to a considerable extent. The time schedule set in the Action Plan is being largely respected.