Lithuania and Poland seek to delay EU-Russia deal

Poland and Lithuania are delaying attempts by the Slovenian EU presidency to agree terms for negotiating a partnership agreement with Russia at a meeting of EU foreign ministers on 10 March, according to diplomats.

"Nobody is rushing with these negotiations," Lithuania's ambassador to the EU, Rytis Martikonis, told European Voice.

Javier Solana, the EU's foreign policy chief, announced during a meeting of EU foreign ministers on Monday (18 February) that the EU was about to restart talks on a new framework agreement with Russia. But Poland and Lithuania want Russia to meet certain conditions first. Poland expects Russia to lift completely its import ban on some Polish agriculture products. Russia revoked parts of its ban after Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who has taken a more conciliatory stance towards Russia than his predecessor, came to power last November.

Lithuania wants Russian oil deliveries to a Polish-owned refinery at Ma_eikiu to resume. They were stopped by Transneft, Russia's pipeline monopoly, after a leak in 2006.

Both problems were described by diplomats as "technicalities" that could be resolved quickly with the requisite political will.

The two governments also want to ensure that concerns over the EU's dependence on Russian energy are reflected in the mandate for the negotiations, which needs approval by all 27 member states. "We have to do some homework among ourselves," Martikonis said.

"Reality poses the same questions to all of us and we have to answer them," he said, adding that the EU had to "consolidate" its message to the new Russian leadership. Russia elects a new president on 2 March.

Many EU member states are concerned about Russia's growing influence over Europe's energy infrastructure.

The chairman of the European Parliament's foreign affairs committee, Jacek Saryusz-Wolski, said that it was "hard to imagine" that the talks with Russia would not cover such crucial questions but added that he saw energy security as a unifying issue among the EU's member states. "Talks with Russia should begin as soon as possible and should be very substantial," he said.

Poland and Lithuania are delaying attempts by the Slovenian EU presidency to agree terms for negotiating a partnership agreement with Russia at a meeting of EU foreign ministers on 10 March, according to diplomats.