By Michele Kambas LIMASSOL, Cyprus, April 21 (Reuters) - A Russian ban on Polish meat imports is unnecessary, the European Union said on Saturday ahead of talks aimed at clearing the way for greater cooperation between the bloc and its main energy supplier. EU Health Commissioner Markos Kyprianou told Reuters there had been some progress towards ending the 16-month-old ban holding up the start of negotiations on a cooperation pact with Russia covering energy, trade, economic cooperation and rights. But he declined to say whether he was confident of a breakthrough ahead of talks with Russian Agriculture Minister Alexei Gordeyev in the Cypriot resort of Limassol. "I can't say I'm confident or that I'm pessimistic -- let's see," he said. "We believe there is no need to continue the trade restrictions there are today." Gordeyev was non-committal when asked earlier if he was optimistic about an agreement, but he said on Wednesday that talks to end the meat ban would be difficult. A breakthrough on Saturday would allow EU foreign ministers due to meet in Luxembourg on Monday to give a green light for the launch of talks on the new cooperation pact with Moscow. In November, EU member Poland vetoed such negotiations in protest at Moscow's boycott, calling it politically motivated. Russia says it is concerned contaminated meat from countries on its banned list could reach its borders through Poland. On Thursday EU ministers approved steps to make it easier for Russians to obtain visas to visit the 27-nation bloc starting in June. But any sense of an easing of the mood was dispelled on Friday when EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson said that the the level of trust between the European Union and Russia had reached its lowest level since the collapse of Communism. Mandelson, a key figure in Russia's bid to join the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and in the row over the meat ban, urged both sides to take a long-term view. EU countries fear Russia is using its vast energy resources as a political weapon and have criticised Moscow for shutting off supplies of oil and gas during disputes with neighbouring customers like Ukraine. EU leaders have also expressed concerns about the unexplained murders of dissidents and journalists critical of the Kremlin and the recent heavy-handed behaviour of police during anti-government demonstrations in Russia.
