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Poland 'derails' EU-Russia talks



By Upstream staff 

Poland blocked the launch of talks between the European Union and Russia on a new pact covering energy, trade and human rights today, less than two weeks before an EU-Russia summit, EU diplomats said.

Warsaw insisted that the EU go into the talks demanding that Russia lift a ban of Polish food imports and make specific commitments on energy supplies. An EU summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki on 24 November is due to launch the negotiations.

"Our Polish friends were not able to budge," a diplomat, who asked not to be named, told Reuters.

"A large number of member states and the European Commissioner stressed we need to get a common position by the summit, otherwise this will damage EU credibility," he added.

EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said Poland resisted pressure from the majority of EU states which fear the lack of a negotiating mandate will cast a shadow over the summit with Russia.

"We all appealed to Poland today to really lift their blockage," Ferrero-Waldner said, adding she expected the matter to be addressed by EU ambassadors due to meet on Wednesday.

Poland's year-old conservative government of Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski has taken a euro-sceptic stance on many issues, leaving the country isolated in some important debates.

The executive European Commission said timing was not all, and the summit with Putin will take place regardless of whether an agreement on the negotiating mandate is reached.

Poland also wants Russia to ratify an energy charter including commitments on energy supplies and better investors' access to the Russian's energy sector, a step Moscow is widely seen as unlikely to take as Putin has preferred to deal with individual EU states on energy issues.

The new "partnership and co-operation agreement" with Russia is to replace an existing pact, and will define relations in areas such as energy, trade, investment and human rights.

Russia supplies more than 25%of the EU's energy and there are few alternative sources, causing concern among many politicians.


Monday, 13 November, 2006, 14:26 GMT  | last updated: Monday, 13 November, 2006, 14:26 GMT

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