March 13, 2007

EU, Russia negotiate on meat imports
 

EU and Russian experts will meet today (March 13) in a bid to resolve differences on European meat imports, a trade dispute that has led to the stalling of a wider cooperation accord between Brussels and Moscow.

Alexei Alexeyenko, spokesman for Russian veterinary control service Rosselkhoznadzor said central of the discussions will be on technical and sanitary issues.

Higher-level talks will take place tomorrow (March 14) between Sergei Dankvert, head of Rosselkhoznadzor, and Paola Testori Coggi, from the European Union consumer protection agency, Alexeyevno said.

EU health officials say they expect to hear the results of Russia's inspections in Poland, as well as Russia's recent threat of a wider EU meat embargo.

Russia imposed an embargo on Polish meat in November 2005, alleging fraud in the implementation of safety standards by Polish authorities.

Poland argues that Moscow is playing politics because of differences with the conservative government in Warsaw.

Angered by the ban, Poland has since last November blocked the launch of talks between Russia and the EU on a new broad economic cooperation agreement aimed among other things at securing a reliable flow to Europe from Russia's massive oil and gas fields.

The European Commission maintains that the continued Russian embargo is unjustified.