April 5, 2007

 

Poland may let talks on EU-Russia partnership deal start

 

 

Poland has indicated it might agree to lifting its veto on talks on a new European Union-Russia partnership agreement, stalled over Moscow's ban on Polish meat and plant products, officials said Thursday (Apr 5).

 

Russia has barred meat imports from Poland since late 2005, citing health concerns. The unresolved dispute led Warsaw to veto the negotiations on a deal that aims to forge closer energy ties between Moscow and the 27-nation bloc.

 

The European Commission said last week it had provided comprehensive replies to questions raised by Russian experts after their recent inspections in Poland. Russian authorities had demanded the EU provide specific information on how the bloc will monitor meat hygiene in 2007.

 

"Following recent contacts...the European Commission has indeed received indications from the Polish authorities that Poland is in a position to give its agreement to the launching of the negotiations," EU spokesman Johannes Laitenberger said, adding that European Commission President Jose Manual Barroso, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Polish officials have discussed the issue.

 

"The Commission is happy about this very constructive (approach) of Polish authorities," Laitenberger said.

 

Diplomats said Poland was putting pressure on the commission to provide guarantees that the six-month standoff will be resolved.

 

The issue will be discussed at an EU foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg later this month and at a Russia-EU summit in May.

 

"There has been progress in the discussions. We don't want to block anything, but we're still waiting for the Russians to do more," a Polish diplomat said.

 

In Warsaw, Polish Agriculture Minister Andrzej Lepper said Poland wouldn't lift its veto without getting something in return from the Kremlin.

 

"It cannot be that Poland unilaterally yields and Russia does nothing," Lepper told journalists.