Verheugen OKs land-sale transition

  • 2002-07-11
  • Rokas M. Tracevskis
VILNIUS

The European Union's enlargement commissioner said in Vilnius last week that the EU was prepared to give all aspirant countries whoich want one a transitional period on land sales to foreigners.

Guenter Verheugen said Brussels was ready to compromise with candidates on what is essentially "a psychological issue" rather than a real problem.

Lithuania is one of several countries that wants a delay on selling land to foreigners as a means of protecting local farmers who feel they won't be able to compete with richer foreigners on the local market.

The Parliament adopted a resolution July 1 demanding the government seek such a transition. Farmers' organizations were planning to launch a 10-day demonstration in front of the Parliament building on July 4 - the day of Verheugen's visit - if Parliament had not acted.

Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and Czech Republic have already won such transition periods from EU negotiators.

Though he agreed in principle to the idea, Verheugen warned that Lithuanian farmers would be better off playing by EU rules. Membership, he said, will net them far more in agricultural subsidies than the Lithuanian budget is able to provide.

"Lithuanian farmers should pray on their knees in the mornings and in the evenings for Lithuania's EU membership," Verheugen said in a speech before parliament.

Because Lithuania has already closed negotiations on the sector, Verheugen said they would have to be reopened to accommodate the transition demand. But he said he doesn't expect it to slow down Lithuania's progress. The government hopes to win membership in the bloc by 2004.

Prime Minister Algirdas Brazauskas said EU negotiators understood the country's change of heart.

"They understand the previous government (headed by Rolandas Paksas) made a mistake by hurrying to close this chapter and not asking for the transitional period," he said.

Some opposition parties and President Valdas Adamkus criticized the parliament's decision.

"Politics does not help us reach the goal faster when one or two steps are taken back," said presidential spokeswoman Violeta Gaizauskaite.

Verheugen, in town for one day, also praised the government's decision to close the Ignalina nuclear power plant by 2009 and promised the EU would not concede to Russian demands for a transit corridor for residents of the Russian Kaliningrad exclave across Lithuania and Poland once the two nations join the EU. "Lithuanian farmers should pray on their knees in the mornings and in the evenings for Lithuania's EU membership," Verheugen said in a speech before Parliament.

Because Lithuania has already closed negotiations on the sector, Verheugen said they would have to be reopened to accommodate the transition demand. But he said he didn't expect it to slow down Lithuania's progress. The government hopes to gain membership in the bloc by 2004.

Prime Minister Algirdas Brazauskas said EU negotiators understood the country's change of heart.

"They understand the previous government (headed by Rolandas Paksas) made a mistake by hurrying to close this chapter and not asking for the transitional period," he said.

Some opposition parties and President Valdas Adamkus criticized the Parliament's decision.

"Politics does not help us reach the goal faster when one or two steps are taken back," said presidential spokeswoman Violeta Gaizauskaite.

Verheugen, in town for one day, also praised the government's decision to close the Ignalina nuclear power plant by 2009 and promised the EU would not concede to Russian demands for a transit corridor for residents of the Russian Kaliningrad exclave across Lithuania and Poland once the two nations join the EU.