The expansion of the European Union has already caused enough difficulties and scandals, the Russian Courier newspaper reports. Finally, Russia said it was not going to extend its trade agreements with the European Union to the EU acceding countries (Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, the Slovak Republic and Slovenia). In particular, it means that Russia will apply higher customs tariffs to the goods from these countries, the newspaper notes.

Russia’s position is clear, the Russian Courier says. As an example, it cites EU quotas for Russian grain imports. Russia currently exports grain to Eastern European countries and the Baltic states without any restrictions. However, once these countries join the EU, grain quotas will also be applied to them.

Russia will sustain EUR 150m in annual losses as a result of the EU enlargement, in the estimation of Russian government officials. This is enough to strain diplomatic relations.

As compensation, Russia asks visa-free travel to Europe for Russians, financial aid to the Kaliningrad region (Russia’s enclave on the Baltic Sea), lower customs tariffs and higher quotas for the import of Russian goods. On January 14, Russia announced its 14 demands on the European Union regarding its trade relations with the EU acceding countries. But Brussels rejected these demands saying that all EU-Russian agreements should be extended to the new members. EU officials are ready for talks on separate issues, but they insist that Russia sign an additional protocol to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, extending it to the Eastern European countries joining the EU on May 1. They also insist that Russia should do it “without precondition”.

According to the newspaper, the European Union is going to use the situation and increase pressure on Russia. Reportedly, documents prepared by the European Commission for the EU meeting in Brussels on February 23-24, contain 17 demands on Russia. The EU wants Russia to delimit its borders with Estonia and Lithuania, reform the energy sector, ratify the Kyoto Protocol before May 1, raise security standards in the sphere of transport and nuclear energy and stop charging “unjustified” fees on European airline companies for flying over Russia.

So, despite optimistic statement about EU-Russian friendship and strategic partnership, relations between Moscow and Brussels are worsening