WARSAW, Poland (AP) -- Polish lawmakers say they need more time for privatizing three shipyards to prevent massive layoffs in the sector.
The European Union has given Poland a July 15 deadline for signing privatization deals on the Szczecin and Gdynia shipyards, and until June 26 to present restructuring plan for Gdansk yard.
Poland says its restructuring plans will be submitted Thursday to the European Commission. But lawmakers say the yards need more time to implement them.
Failure to meet the EU deadlines would require that the docks return millions of euros (dollars) in state subsidies and go bankrupt. That could cost some 80,000 jobs.
EU spokesman Jonathan Todd says Poland is already working on extra time and cannot expect an extension.
