POLISH AGRICULTURE AND THE QUESTION OF EU ROPEAN INTEGRATION - CONTRASTIVE VIEWS

Given its productive potential and its specific structural characteris tics, Poland will likely play an important role in the enlargement pro cess of the European Union. On the basis of an analysis of official vi ews in Brussels and Warsaw, questions are raised about the impact of p olitical and social actors' tacit opinions and conceptions. Even thoug h a post-communist coalition now heads the Polish government and an in terventionist, protectionist policy has been adopted, a new political conception in favor of integration tends to prevail in the country. Al l the scenarios for integration, as foreseen by European or Polish exp erts, focus on assessing production potentials and the rhythm of price adjustments. But integration cannot be reduced to its economic and fi nancial impact; this question must also be seen in social and historic al terms. Might Poland's structural heritage not thwart the convergenc e of agricultural policies ? Although there is a political willingness to adapt Polish farming to European requirements, the specificities o f an agriculture mainly comprised of small family holdings may make it difficult for this country to accept the European agricultural model.