There is still hope for Polish shipyards

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk met with the head of the European Commission Tuesday evening to discuss the future of the Polish shipbuilding industry. The fate of the yards is in the hands of the Commission, if it rejects the restructuring plans the yards will be obliged to pay back the state aid they had received. This would mean bankruptcy.

There is still hope for Polish shipyards, said the PM, after the meeting. The talks concentrated on finding solutions, which could guarantee that the Szczecin and Gdynia shipyard could continue production. The future of two yards was threatened by the September declaration of the EU Commissioner for Competition, Neelie Kroes, who announced a rejection of the restructuring plans. The Gdansk shipyard is in a much better situation, said the premier. The smaller yard had been privatised already, and the Commission is waiting for its restructuring plans till the end of October.