Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03ROME2837
2003-06-23 11:08:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Rome
Cable title:  

OPEN SKIES AND CSI: GOI LOOKS TOWARDS THE JUNE 25

Tags:  EAIR EWWT ECON IT EUN FAA AVIATION 
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UNCLAS ROME 002837 

SIPDIS


SENSITIVE

FAA HDQRS FOR API-1/AIA-1/2/300
BRUSSELS FOR FAA AEU-1

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAIR EWWT ECON IT EUN FAA AVIATION
SUBJECT: OPEN SKIES AND CSI: GOI LOOKS TOWARDS THE JUNE 25
U.S./EU SUMMIT

(U) SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY.
NOT/NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION.

OPEN SKIES
----------

UNCLAS ROME 002837

SIPDIS


SENSITIVE

FAA HDQRS FOR API-1/AIA-1/2/300
BRUSSELS FOR FAA AEU-1

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAIR EWWT ECON IT EUN FAA AVIATION
SUBJECT: OPEN SKIES AND CSI: GOI LOOKS TOWARDS THE JUNE 25
U.S./EU SUMMIT

(U) SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY.
NOT/NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION.

OPEN SKIES
--------------


1. (SBU) ACCORDING TO TRANSPORT MINISTRY DIRECTOR FOR
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS ALDO SANSONE, GOI OFFICIALS ARE
RELIEVED THAT THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION WAS GRANTED A MANDATE
TO NEGOTIATE A U.S./EU OPEN SKIES AGREEMENT. HE BELIEVES
THAT THE EC NO LONGER HAS THE RIGHT TO TAKE LEGAL ACTION
AGAINST MEMBER STATES WITH OPEN SKIES BILATERAL AGREEMENTS,
NOR DOES IT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO ASK THE MEMBER STATES TO
DENOUNCE SUCH TREATIES. WHILE OPEN SKIES WILL BE DISCUSSED
AT THE JUNE 25 U.S./EU SUMMIT IN WASHINGTON, D.C., SANSONE
FORESEES THE NEGOTIATIONS COMMENCING IN SEPTEMBER, AND
EXPECTS TO BE PERSONALLY A MEMBER OF THE NEGOTIATING TEAM.


2. (SBU) SANSONE THOUGH THAT THESE NEGOTIATIONS WILL NOT BE
CONCLUDED PAINLESSLY OR QUICKLY, ESPECIALLY GIVEN DIFFERENCES
BETWEEN U.S. AND EU LEGAL FRAMEWORKS. FOR EXAMPLE, HE
CONTINUED, THERE WILL BE A CLASH BETWEEN THE EU'S COMPETITION
LAW AND THE U.S. SHERMAN ACT; THE QUESTION OF TRAFFIC RIGHTS
IS ALSO PROBLEMATIC. AT THE SAME TIME, HE EMPHASIZED THAT
BOTH THE U.S. AND THE EU APPEAR TO HAVE THE DESIRE AND
SUPPORT TO SUCCESSFULLY CONCLUDE AN U.S./EU OPEN SKIES
AGREEMENT.

CONTAINER SECURITY INITIATIVE (CSI)
--------------


3. (SBU) ON MONDAY, JUNE 16, GENOA BECAME THE FIRST FULLY
OPERATIONAL ITALIAN CSI PORT AND LA SPEZIA BECAME FULLY
OPERATIONAL ON MONDAY, JUNE 23. AFTER "PHASE ONE" HAS BEEN
OPERATIONAL FOR FOUR TO SIX MONTHS, U.S. CUSTOMS WILL WORK
WITH GOI OFFICIALS TO EXPAND CSI TO THREE ADDITIONAL ITALIAN
PORTS - LIVORNO, GIOIA TAURO AND NAPLES. WHILE GOI CUSTOMS
AND POLICE OFFICIALS STRONGLY SUPPORT CSI, THEY ARE SENSITIVE
TO ITALIAN PRESS REPORTING THAT USG OFFICIALS ARE CARRYING
OUT CONTROLS, WHICH IS NOT THE CASE. USG AND GOI OFFICIALS
ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO CORRECT AND AVOID MISREPRESENTATION
IN THE ITALIAN PRESS.


4. (SBU) GOI OFFICIALS ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE
PRESENTATION OF A DRAFT AMENDMENT TO THE U.S./EU CUSTOMS
MUTUAL ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT (CMAA) AT THE JUNE 25 U.S./EU
SUMMIT. IF APPROVED, BOTH GOI AND U.S. CUSTOMS OFFICIALS
BELIEVE THAT IT WOULD CANCEL IMPENDING INFRINGEMENT
PROCEEDINGS AGAINST MEMBER STATES WITH BILATERAL CSI
AGREEMENTS WITH THE U.S.


5. (SBU) COMMENT. HEADING INTO THE JUNE 25 U.S./EU SUMMIT
AND ITS EU PRESIDENCY IN JULY, THE GOI APPEARS TO SUPPORT
EUROPEAN COMMISSION EFFORTS TO CONCLUDE U.S./EU AGREEMENTS ON
BOTH OPEN SKIES AND CSI. THE GOI IS ALSO COMMITTED TO A
SMOOTH TRANSITION FROM MEMBER STATE TO U.S./EU AGREEMENTS IN
BOTH CASES. END COMMENT.
SEMBLER

NNNN
2003ROME02837 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED