The European Commission said Friday it expected Russia to lift its ban on European Union meat imports with immediate effect, following talks between Commission President Romano Prodi and Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov.
"The prime minister accepted our views and promised that the Russian government will stop these restrictions and allow trade in foodstuffs to continue freely from here on," chief Commission spokesman Reijo Kemppinen told a news conference.
Moscow barred the imports earlier in the week due to food safety certification issues. Kemppinen said Prodi suggested that talks to solve the problem should be concluded by the end of September.
