| The ban on meat imports
only came to light over the past
few days. The Commission claims it still does not have official
details of exactly what products are affected and from which member
states. But Russia's agriculture ministry has confirmed that
it has halted EU meat imports. At
issue is a demand that all imports are accompanied
by uniform certificates authorised
by the Commission and not the individual member states.
The ban on meat imports will hit
eleven EU countries, including France, Germany, Poland and Ireland.
Russia has recently signed a series of agreements with the EU
which have extended political and trading ties.
The Commission has now launched a
high-level diplomatic offensive
to reverse the ban. The Commission president, Romano Prodi, is
expected to speak with the Russian Prime Minister today.
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came to light: became known
member states: the countries that
have joined an organisation are called member states
halted: stopped
at issue: the subject at issue
is the main subject of disagreement accompanied
by: joined by
uniform: uniform certificates follow
one standard pattern
hit: badly affect
ties: relationships
launched: if you launch a large,
important campaign, you start it
offensive: attack
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