Mandelson steps in

"The Commission has proposed to Polish and Russian governments to organize a meeting in a trilateral format," said the European Commissioner for Trade, Peter Mandelson. He didn't specify when this meeting could take place or whether the offer had been accepted. "We could organize it with a minimum of delay," he added. He thinks such negotiations could not only help solve the problem, but also demonstrate European solidarity to Russia.

"The meat ban is a problem for the EU as a whole... It's an issue not only restricted to Poland," Mandelson said. "Each EU state derives its strength from the EU - we are stronger when working together."