EU-Russia relations dominated talks between Lehtomäki and Lamy

Press Release 84
2.4.2004



EU-Russia relations were a central topic when Finnish Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paula Lehtomäki met EU Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs on Friday.

Lamy was quite confident about finding a solution for the disagreement on the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) which has dominated EU-Russia relations. He believes a solution will be found before 1 May and the enlargement of the European Union. Minister Lehtomäki shared Lamy's views. "Finland has all along tried actively to improve the relations between the EU and Russia. The question is important to Finland as Russia is such an important trading partner rendering Finland vulnerable to any friction in trade relations between the EU and Russia", Lehtomäki says.

Russia's WTO accession is an important issue for Finland, as well. Commissioner Lamy and Minister Lehtomäki agreed that the Russian leadership had been very committed to the process and they both had high hopes for the resolution of the remaining questions. "Still, I wish the process were speedier", Lehtomäki said. "Russian WTO membership would have a major impact on Finnish foreign trade. At the moment the advancement of the negotiations has not been as good as one could hope."

Lamy and Lehtomäki discussed the World Trade Organisation on more general terms, as well. Lamy informed Lehtomäki on the situation of the round of negotiations still in progress. During the negotiations, the commission has concentrated on each developing country separately to find out their positions. Lehtomäki conveyed to Lamy her wish for genuine progress in the negotiations before the summer recess.

In connection with the WTO agenda Lehtomäki and Lamy focused particularly on agriculture. Agriculture export subsidies, which have been a much-discussed topic during the last few days, have in connection with market access and domestic subsidies been one of the most decisive issues in the current round of negotiations. "We have to accept the fact that agriculture is a key question in the WTO negotiations but we must also have enough ambitions to promote our objectives in the industry and services sections", Lehtomäki summed up. "Finland has actively tried to make sure that the developing countries get their voice heard. However, flexibility is called for on all sides if a solution is to be found", Minister Lehtomäki says.

Additional information: Special Adviser to the Minister Okko-Pekka Salmimies, tel. 040 7356545, and Press Attaché Anna Tonttila, tel. 040 513 1669.