Brussels, 28/01/2015 (Agence Europe) - At the Agriculture Council on Monday 26 January, the European Commission again argued for a European solution on the possible conditions for relaxation of the Russian embargo on the import of EU agricultural products.
Health Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis stated that trade policy is an exclusive competence of the Union. “Therefore, I would like to make it clear that the Commission does not support or promote the conclusion of bilateral trade agreements between member states and any third country”, he said. This was in reference to the contacts a number of countries (France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands and Hungary) have recently had with the Russian veterinary service with a view to allowing the export of pig meat to Russia to resume.
The commissioner stated that technical discussions had taken place in Berlin between his Commission staff and the Russian veterinary service on resuming the export of certain products, based strictly on an EU framework and using valid EU certificates. The technical conditions discussed must apply to the EU as a whole: “no specific conditions were discussed nor agreed for any particular member states”. “Bilateral agreements were explicitly excluded as unacceptable as well as any linkage to political discussion between EU and Russia”, he made clear.
During the discussions, the Commission clearly indicated that, as long as Russia did not implement internationally accepted principles of regionalisation, the Commission will maintain its position regarding the ban on pigs and pig products in relation to African swine fever on which the EU is challenging Russia at the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
“I am aware of the constant efforts by Russia to create divisions within the EU often by discriminating among member states on different issues including the access to its market”, the commissioner said. “I want to assure you that the Commission remains firm on insisting on the principle of solidarity and equal treatment of all EU member states. The Commission will not tolerate discriminatory practices by Russia against any member state. The practice of bilateral agreements beyond the EU framework is not acceptable”, he said in conclusion.
At the Council meeting, Poland, Lithuania, Estonia, Slovenia and the United Kingdom supported the Commission's stance.
France stated that it had not held “specific bilateral discussions. Technical-level discussions were held between veterinarians”. Such meetings have been taking place regularly since February 2014 when Russia imposed its embargo because of outbreaks of African swine fever. France wanted to show its pork producers that there were “positive signs” on the possible resumption of exports to Russia. The import ban is not referred to as being political but as a public health (pig meat) embargo. (LC)