April 16, 2007

EU commissioner to meet Russian official over Polish meat ban

The European Union's top health official will meet with Russia's agriculture minister later this month to discuss Moscow's ban on Polish meat and plant products, which is blocking talks on a new EU-Russia partnership agreement, an official said Friday (Apr 13).

The meeting between EU Health Commissioner Markos Kyprianou and Russian Agriculture Minister Alexei Gordeyev, aimed at lifting the ban, will take place in the Cypriot port town of Limassol on April 21, EU spokesman Philip Tod said.

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 EU.

Unanimous agreement of all EU governments is needed for the talks to begin.