Brussels, 08/01/2007 (Agence Europe) - As planned, Europeans and Russians will be sealing their agreement of principle on maintaining EU meat exports to Russia, during the “Green Week” in Berlin, the spokesman for Commissioner Kyprianou confirmed on Monday (EUROPE 9332). A memorandum of understanding will be signed on 19 January after a further meeting of experts two days earlier, at which the Russian embargo towards Poland should also be discussed, he explained. Expressing concern at Bulgaria and Romania's compliance with health and phytosanitary standards, Moscow had threatened to ban meat imports from the whole of the EU after accession by these two countries. During his visit to the Russian capital at the end of December, the Commissioner responsible for consumer protection managed to convince the Russian minister for agriculture, Alexei Gordeyev, that the transitional measures set in place by the EU at the time of Bulgarian and Romanian accession would be sufficient to prevent any meat that does not comply with European standards from reaching the Russian market. During this meeting, the Commission had not, however, raised the issue of Poland, which, displeased at the continuing embargo, continues to oppose the opening of talks with a view to a new partnership agreement with Russia. Markos Kyprianou's top priority for this coming year is the lifting of the embargo on Polish meat to be well and truly covered during a series of meetings from 17-19 January, the spokesperson said. The Commissioner hopes to go to Warsaw next Monday to prepare meetings scheduled for the following days. (ab)