Moscow, July 23 (Interfax) - Russia might have to introduce safeguard measures for its economy if serious risks arise due to association agreements between Ukraine and Moldova and the EU, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said.
“We’re in consultations with the EU and with our partners in the
Customs Union and CIS, and we’ll have to introduce safeguard measures in
certain circumstances,” Medvedev said at a conference with Russian
trade envoys.
But Russia is still geared towards mutually beneficial cooperation
with the EU, which will be its main trading partner for a long time to
come, he said.
“Much of Europe’s energy balance depends on energy supplies by our
country, and we hold our reputation as a dependable supplier dear. But
we have to be confident that our economic interests will be duly
provided for,” he said.
“I’m saying this in connection with the fact that association
agreements were signed with the EU by Moldova and Ukraine – countries
which are also parties to the CIS Free Trade Treaty. We are making an
objective assessment of the negative consequences of such decisions for
our economy,” he said.
This particularly applies to the technical regulation of standards and to sanitary and phytosanitary control, he said.
