budanski
02-23-2004, 09:01 AM
Russia Faces EU Sanctions Over 'Bullying' In Eastern Europe
Telegraph.co.uk (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/02/23/wrus23.xml&sSheet=/news/2004/02/23/ixworld.html)
By Ambrose Evans-Pritchard in Brussels
(Filed: 23/02/2004)
The European Union is to threaten trade sanctions against Moscow today in a showdown over Russian bullying tactics in Eastern Europe, violations of human rights, and misuse of the criminal justice system for political ends.
Gathering in Brussels to tackle the mounting dispute, EU foreign ministers are expected to call for punitive measures unless Moscow recognises its former Warsaw Pact satellites as full EU members when they join in May.
The draft text demands that Russia extend the same treatment to all of the EU's 25 states, "without pre-condition or distinction".
With only two months before the EU enlargement from the current 15 member states to 25, Russia insists on maintaining separate trade relationships with its former satellites, claiming it would suffer trade losses if it did not.
But EU officials say the real dispute is over attempts by President Vladimir Putin to retain a degree of political control in Eastern Europe.
Using the toughest language since the fall of communism, the draft text warns Mr Putin that any attempt to dictate settlements to other countries would have "a serious impact on relations."
EU diplomats said the message was intended to be a shock warning that Russia was playing a dangerous diplomatic game by confronting the EU on such a fundamental point of principle.
"We are not going to let them blackmail us. They're behaving extremely badly, so we're sending them a clear message that the EU will not be pushed around," said one official.
The text includes veiled warnings that the EU will block Russia's bid to join the World Trade Organization if Russia continues to defy the it over the Kyoto protocol on global warming, human rights, and energy policy.
The warning follows a European Commission report criticising the Putin government for "selective application of the law" over the imprisonment of Russia's leading oil magnate. Citing a list of dubious practices, the report said Mr Putin's conduct "raises questions about Russia's commitment and ability to uphold core universal and European values".
Russia has dragged its feet over talks on the disputed border with Estonia and Latvia - soon to be the outer frontier of the EU itself - raising the risk of friction.
Latvia has accused Mr Putin of withholding oil supplies for its refinery on the Baltic coast as a means of forcing concessions.
The text includes veiled warnings that the EU will block Russia's bid to join the World Trade Organization if Russia continues to defy the it over the Kyoto protocol on global warming (http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/opinion/article/0,1299,DRMN_38_2531767,00.html), human rights, and energy policy.
Who's bullying who here?... Warning to the Eurocrats: "Don't Poke the Bear"
Telegraph.co.uk (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/02/23/wrus23.xml&sSheet=/news/2004/02/23/ixworld.html)
By Ambrose Evans-Pritchard in Brussels
(Filed: 23/02/2004)
The European Union is to threaten trade sanctions against Moscow today in a showdown over Russian bullying tactics in Eastern Europe, violations of human rights, and misuse of the criminal justice system for political ends.
Gathering in Brussels to tackle the mounting dispute, EU foreign ministers are expected to call for punitive measures unless Moscow recognises its former Warsaw Pact satellites as full EU members when they join in May.
The draft text demands that Russia extend the same treatment to all of the EU's 25 states, "without pre-condition or distinction".
With only two months before the EU enlargement from the current 15 member states to 25, Russia insists on maintaining separate trade relationships with its former satellites, claiming it would suffer trade losses if it did not.
But EU officials say the real dispute is over attempts by President Vladimir Putin to retain a degree of political control in Eastern Europe.
Using the toughest language since the fall of communism, the draft text warns Mr Putin that any attempt to dictate settlements to other countries would have "a serious impact on relations."
EU diplomats said the message was intended to be a shock warning that Russia was playing a dangerous diplomatic game by confronting the EU on such a fundamental point of principle.
"We are not going to let them blackmail us. They're behaving extremely badly, so we're sending them a clear message that the EU will not be pushed around," said one official.
The text includes veiled warnings that the EU will block Russia's bid to join the World Trade Organization if Russia continues to defy the it over the Kyoto protocol on global warming, human rights, and energy policy.
The warning follows a European Commission report criticising the Putin government for "selective application of the law" over the imprisonment of Russia's leading oil magnate. Citing a list of dubious practices, the report said Mr Putin's conduct "raises questions about Russia's commitment and ability to uphold core universal and European values".
Russia has dragged its feet over talks on the disputed border with Estonia and Latvia - soon to be the outer frontier of the EU itself - raising the risk of friction.
Latvia has accused Mr Putin of withholding oil supplies for its refinery on the Baltic coast as a means of forcing concessions.
The text includes veiled warnings that the EU will block Russia's bid to join the World Trade Organization if Russia continues to defy the it over the Kyoto protocol on global warming (http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/opinion/article/0,1299,DRMN_38_2531767,00.html), human rights, and energy policy.
Who's bullying who here?... Warning to the Eurocrats: "Don't Poke the Bear"