Amid a growing food imports row, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday criticized the European Union on the eve of summit talks in Helsinki for accepting Bulgaria and Romania as new member states without consulting Moscow, DPA reported. "Unfortunately, the EU while adopting the accession of those two countries didn't find it necessary to consult with us on the interests of all sides concerned," Putin told reporters in Helsinki. The remarks came after Poland blocked the launching of talks on a new European Union cooperation pact with Russia in protest at Moscow's ban on imports of Polish meat and plant exports - which Russia sees as linked with Bulgarian and Romanian accession. Romania and Bulgaria are to join the EU on New Year's Day. Officials in Moscow say food products from the two former Eastern Bloc countries could reach Russia through third-party EU members - especially Poland - after their EU accession. Citing that risk, the controversial ban on Polish animal and plant products would not be discussed before Russia reaches agreement with the EU on Bulgarian and Romanian standards, Moscow officials said. Officials in Moscow said the reason for their planned EU-wide ban - which encompasses dairy and fish products, in addition to meat - was lax veterinary standards in Romania and Bulgaria.
