Embargo on Polish agricultural exports to Russia

28.4.2006

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2053/06
by Czesław Siekierski (PPE‑DE)
to the Commission

On 11 April 2006 in Moscow, Madam Commissioner, you signed a memorandum of understanding for a dialogue on agriculture and rural development with Russia.

What does this agreement contain and what are its financial implications for the European Union? What areas does it cover? What did we promise to give and what will we receive in return? The short note on the matter that appears on the Commission website tells us that, in your view, the agreement is an historic moment for agricultural relations between the EU and Russia and marks the beginning of a new era of fruitful cooperation between them.

And what does this mean for Polish meat and plant product exports to Russia? The restrictions that Russia has placed on trade in such products are causing extremely serious problems for many Polish producers. Hundreds of people have lost their jobs and millions of euros are estimated to have been lost.

You are known to have brought the matter up during talks with the Russian Agriculture Minister, Alexei Gordeyev. Did you discuss the problems in Poland and did the Russian side set a time frame for the lifting of the ban? When will the Commission take decisive action on the matter and enter talks with a view to settling the matter as soon as possible?

It has recently become clear that this is a political issue; assistance from the Commission would therefore be extremely useful and is eagerly awaited. It needs to be pointed out in the clearest possible terms that Poland has satisfied the requirements for a lifting of the ban. The additional demands made by the Russians are interfering with EU trade policy. Meeting those demands would significantly increase the length of veterinary and plant health checks on EU agricultural exports at the Russian border.

The Russian embargo on Polish agricultural exports has already been in place for more than six months, and we hope that the Commission and you personally, Madam Commissioner, will help to settle the matter at the earliest opportunity.

OJ C 328, 30/12/2006