Brussels, 03/11/2008 (Agence Europe) - The Polish authorities announced that on Monday 3 November, they would send a letter to the Commission, calling for a change to the Gdynia and Szczecin shipyards rescue plan. The spokesperson to the Polish treasury, Maciej Wewior, said that Poland agrees “with the principle of putting them up for sale”, as proposed by the Commissioner for competition, Neelie Kroes but not on, “how this should be done”. The Polish state is particularly keen on continuing to make ships (in parallel, if necessary, with greater steel production) and using income raised from the sale to pay the shipyards' debts. The Commissioner is proposing that the shipyard assets are sold off soon and that the money be used to pay back the state. If this takes place, those acquiring the assets will not have to pay back the state aid received since Poland joined the EU in 2004. The shipyards employ 60,000 and will not be able to survive the forced recovery of the €2.1bn in question. (C.D./trans/rh)