MOSCOW, July 23 (RIA Novosti) — Moscow will have to resort to protective measures if Ukraine’s association deal with the European Union poses risks for the Russian economy, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said Wednesday.
«We believe that the risks remain quite serious, especially concerning technical regulations and standards of sanitary and phytosanitary control. That’s why we are conducting consultations with the EU, with our Customs Union and CIS partners and, under certain circumstances, we will have to take protective measures," Medvedev said at a meeting with trade representatives.
Earlier, Moscow prepared and sent the list of potential risks posed to the Russian economy by Ukraine’s association with the EU.
European Commissioner for Trade Karel De Gucht recognized the possibility of trade complications between Russia and Ukraine as he met with Russia’s Economic Development Minister Alexei Ulyukayev and Ukraine’s Klimkin in Brussels earlier this month.
If Kiev ratifies the document by late September, the association agreement may go into effect by November 1 — the deadline for canceling many EU duties for Ukrainian goods, a high-ranking EU source said earlier this month. In the final step, the European Parliament and all EU member states would have to ratify the agreement.
Ukraine signed the agreement on its association with the EU on June 27. Russia voiced concern over the economic loss the new association would present for it by triggering an uncontrolled flow of duty-free goods.
