Funds are distributed under the SAPARD Program (Special Accession Programme for Agriculture and Rural Development) with the object of providing assistance to the EU candidate countries in the process of adjusting their agricultural sector to EU standards. In order to meet this objective, in-depth modernisation of agricultural production is required, together with the enhancement of the attractiveness of rural areas for domestic and foreign investors and the creation of new employment opportunities for those who have been hitherto employed in the agricultural sector.

The article describes all the actions taken in Poland intended to effect the comprehensive introduction of SAPARD. It also compares the Polish case with action taken in Spain and Portugal in the first half of the 80s, i.e. before they entered the European Community in 1986. Development and, primarily, modernisation of the agricultural sector of both member states constituted an important area of adjustment to European standards within the entire pre-accession period.

In the article, an attempt is made analyse the condition of Polish rural areas on the eve of entering the European Union and point to the similarities in the situation of Spain and Portugal over a dozen years ago.

In the summary, the authors have presented predicted effects of the introduction of the SAPARD Program in Poland as well as financial implications arising from the future membership of Poland in the European Union.