Gdansk shipyard gets final chance to make case to EU to avoid closure

Poland's Gdansk shipyard, the birthplace of the anti-communist Solidarity movement, has submitted a last-ditch rescue plan to the European Union to prevent its closure. The European Commission set a Tuesday deadline for the yard to submit proposals on cutting capacity, and thus avoid having to repay state subsidies that could trigger its bankruptcy. The yard is set to be privatized and either a Ukrainian or Italian company will buy a majority stake under the plan. "We have outlined a very detailed proposal on how to make the shipyard profitable and make it work in line with EU rules," said Andrzej Jaworski, chief executive. "I am convinced that the crisis can be prevented."