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Poland Vetoes EU-Russia talks

The talks between the EU and Russia scheduled November 24th on a new agreement on energy, trade and human rights are in trouble. Poland is demanding Russia cancel its ban on Polish food products and ratify a treaty on energy trade between the countries. Jaroslaw Kaczynski, Poland`s prime minister said that Russia is violating current EU-Russia agreements by banning Polish meat. The prime minister says there is no reason to continue negotiating as long as current agreements aren`t being kept.

The EU without a constitution requires a unanimous agreement of all 25 member countries thus allowing any European country the ability to veto any EU foreign policy. This renders the EU practically unable to hold a foreign policy at all. Poland is asking its fellow EU membering countries show solidarity and assist Poland in receiving what it rightfully deserves.

Further cooperation between the EU and Russia is crucial for the economic development of both markets. The EU imports a quarter of its energy supply from Russia. Experts expect Russian oil and gas take a growing part in European energy consumption in the future. But as Russia looses more and more countries who used to be under its influence in the days of the USSR to European influence its need for greater economic cooperation with Europe is becoming irreplaceable. Many membering EU nations hope that Poland and Russia are able to solve their differences by conference. If these differences are not settled and the trade negotiations are canceled EU credibility could be greatly hurt.