BRUSSELS, Nov. 15 (UPI) -- Poland said it will block negotiations between the European Union and Russia unless the EU takes action on Russia's ban on food trade with Poland.
Poland announced its position on the eve of next week's EU-Russia summit on a new treaty, the EU Observer said. Russia last year imposed a blockade on Polish exports of meat and vegetables.
France said it backs Poland's complaint that the European Commission isn't doing enough to halt Russia's ban on food trade with Poland.
A French diplomat said France supported Poland on the embargo question, saying the matter "falls fully within the commission's competence; it's not a bilateral issue," the EU Observer said.
Besides threatening to block the Nov. 24 talks in Finland on the new EU-Russia pact, Polish officials said the EU must ask Russia to ratify the 1991 Energy Charter Treaty on fair play in international energy markets.
Other members said the EU should focus on getting the ECT principles included in the new treaty, the EU Observer said. The countries said they view Poland's ECT demand as a way to get EU backing on the food embargo matter.
