* EU exec says Argentina food import restrictions "illegal"
* Measures could affect EU-Mercosur trade talks, says Ciolos
* Greece says exports worth $2.4 million blocked since April
By Charlie Dunmore
LUXEMBOURG, June 29 (Reuters) - Restrictions on food imports by Argentina could undermine renewed talks on a free-trade agreement between the European Union and the Mercosur group of South American countries, EU farm ministers and officials warned on Tuesday.
EU countries including France, Germany and Italy backed a complaint by Greece over Argentina's curbs, which have been applied to imports of foods that South-America's second largest economy already produces itself.
"The Argentinean restrictions will have a wholly negative influence on the resumption of talks for the conclusion of an EU-Mercosur agreement," Greece said in a memo circulated at a meeting of EU farm ministers in Luxembourg.
Greece said that $2.4 million worth of exports of canned peaches had been cancelled or suspended by Argentinean importers since April, equivalent to 40 percent of total Greek exports to Argentina each year.
EU Agriculture Commissioner Dacian Ciolos said the restrictions were being applied to nearly all the agro-food products the EU exports to Argentina.
"Aside from the illegal nature of these measures, I am equally concerned by their announcement on the eve of the resumption of negotiations with Mercosur," Ciolos told the ministers.
A first technical meeting between EU and Mercosur negotiators was due to be held in Buenos Aires on Tuesday, and Ciolos revealed that the Commission had debated whether it should go ahead, before deciding that it should.
"If these measures persist, the negotiations with Mercosur will necessarily be affected," Ciolos added.
EU agriculture ministers and farming groups are strongly opposed to any trade deal with Mercosur, which would likely see Europe cut its import tariffs for agricultural imports in return for greater access to Mercosur's services and telecoms markets. (Editing by James Jukwey)