Poland spoils the EU-Russia party

Talks on a new EU-Russia partnership were to have been the central theme of the Helsinki summit last Friday, but they had to be scrapped because Poland blocked consensus on a negotiating mandate following Moscow's refusal to lift its ban on Polish meat imports.

"Of course it would be better not to have [the Polish veto] but we are going to keep on working," EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said as he arrived at the summit venue. "The situation will be overcome."

Poland is the first new member state to use its veto to block talks with a third country, and according to diplomats many EU governments are exasperated by Warsaw's tactics. However, Poland's stance results from the government viewing the issue as a matter of national sovereignty.

Polish Foreign Minister Anna Fotyga said Russia's year-long ban on Polish meat was politically motivated, and questioned why Russian authorities doubted Polish veterinary norms approved by the EU. "There are some actions on the part of Russia which heavily undermine Poland's crucial interests, meaning overall security," Fotyga said. "Therefore, we ask for solidarity from EU member states, but we are still willing to find consensus."

Asked about the row's impact on Poland's reputation among EU states, Fotyga said in English: "What kind of damage can be [deemed acceptable] when you fight for your sovereignty? You wager everything for this. Everything - even reputation."

On Friday, EC President Barroso informed Russian President Putin that the EU had certified Poland's meat export industry and that the ban was no longer necessary. Putin, in return, stated that Moscow would try to come to an agreement with the EU and Poland, calling the matter a "purely technical issue." The Russian president, however, made no mention of how soon the issue would be resolved. (Reuters)