Poland looks forward to EU farm support review

(WARSAW) - Major beneficiaries of their country joining the European Union, Polish farmers are eagerly awaiting the launch this week of a review of the Common Agriculture Policy for changes allowing them to tap growing global demand and prices.

Before Poland's accession in May 2004, farmers were hesitant or even hostile to joining the EU, helping propel anti-EU parties into power, but after three years in the bloc they have largely seen their hopes fulfilled.

Pocketing around 2.5 billion euros (3.7 billion dollars) in aid from the EU and their government last year, Polish farmers have seen their revenue and ability to invest grow.

"At the same time the darkest scenarios like an invasion of European products into Poland haven't come to pass," said Andrzej Kowalski, a researcher at the Economy and Agriculture Institute.