New level of relations with EU can be achieved through dialog with Customs Union - EurAsEC
ST. PETERSBURG. June 21 (Interfax) - A new level of relations with the EU can be achieved by setting up direct dialogue with the Customs Union, said Andrei Slepnev, the Eurasian Economic Commission (EurAsEC) Trade Minister, during the Russia-EU Business Dialogue held during this year's St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.
During talks about Russia's accession to the WTO a lot of baggage of unresolved problems was accumulated and now through inertia it continues to obstruct the establishment of a new basic agreement between Russia and the EU, he said. Interaction with the EU needs to be brought to a new level, Slepnev said.
The EC needs to obtain a mandate as quickly as possible to hold talks with EurAsEC - the supranational regulatory body of the Customs Union, he said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said in early June following a Russia-EU summit that Russia and the EU are continuing their dialogue on a new basic agreement, for which trade and economic issues remain the stumbling block.