Poland seeks EU assurances on anti-abortion laws

Poland has asked the European Union for guarantees that Brussels would not try to influence Warsaw's strict anti-abortion laws when it joins the bloc in 2004, a government spokesman said yesterday.

Overwhelmingly Catholic Poland must approve an EU accession treaty at a referendum expected in June. Support for membership is strong but euro sceptics have stepped up their campaign, saying the EU would undermine traditional values by promoting a liberal approach to abortion and homosexual marriages.

Brussels has never sought to impose its policies on moral matters and EU member Ireland has long had strict abortion laws.

But Malta, another staunchly Catholic candidate, has negotiated a declaration which states that national law will always take precedence over EU law in the area of abortion.

Government spokesman Michal Tober said Warsaw wanted a similar declaration added to Poland's accession treaty.

"The declaration will make it impossible to mislead many Poles by possible suggestions that EU integration could have bearing on issues of morality and protection of life," Tober told public radio.

Poland, homeland of Pope John Paul, allows abortions only when pregnancy poses a threat to a woman's health, when the foetus is damaged or in the case of rape. Doctors face up to three years in jail for performing illegal abortions.

Poland is by far the largest of 10, mostly ex-communist countries invited to join the EU next year.