POLISH EU PERMREP AMBASSADOR GRELA MEETING WITH EB

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 004112 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EB, EUR/ERA, AND EUR/SCE E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/24/2014 TAGS: PREL TU PL ZL EUN USEU BRUSSELS SUBJECT: POLISH EU PERMREP AMBASSADOR GRELA MEETING WITH EB A/S WAYNE Classified By: USEU/POL: HO'Hara, reasons 1.4 b/d ¶1. (C) Summary: Poland Permanent Representative to the EU, Ambassador Marek Grela stressed that the Polish government strongly endorses giving Turkey a date for accession talks to the EU this fall, said progress was being made on Cyprus aid issues among EU ambassadors, expressed concern over the current situation in Serbia, and commented briefly on the transatlantic relationship. He estimates that "more than 20 EU countries" are ready to say "yes" to Turkey. End Summary ¶2. (C) In a September 22 meeting with Assistant Secretary for Economic and Business Affairs Tony Wayne, Polish PermRep Ambassador Grela said that the Polish government strongly supports giving Turkey a date for EU accession talks. Even though Poland is a heavily Catholic country, the Polish public and many Polish clergy have a great deal of sympathy for Turkey. One reason is that Turkey was the only country in Europe that didn't recognize the 19th century Partition of Poland. In addition, there is a small Polish community, Polanescu (as heard),a weekend resort town about 80 km from Istanbul that was settled by Poles located there by Russia. All these factors contribute to a positive historical feeling about Turkey that is deep-rooted and emotional. ¶3. (C) Grela argued that the proof of the EU's desire to show an open and outward looking face depends on the EU's ability to open itself to possible new members. Poland is interested in other new members besides Turkey. Within the EU, Grela said "more than 20 members" favor giving Turkey a date for starting accession talks. A number of member states have some questions about timetables and conditions, but in the Polish view the offer for a date needs to be unconditional. Grela suggested that it would be better to offer no date or to delay a decision than try to impose more conditions. ¶4. (C) On Cyprus, Grela said EU perm reps had earlier debated, in a restricted session, proposals for EU aid to Northern Cyrpus as well as proposals to allow trade. He said the Cypriot Ambassador had shown more flexibility and that he (Grela) believed an agreement in principle has been reached on EU assistance. Grela said some progress had been achieved also on trade but this was more difficult. Nevertheless, Greala said he was optimistic that bit by bit an agreement could be hammered out to help Northern Cyprus. ¶5. (C) Grela briefly commented on the Balkans and accession talks with Romania and Bulgaria. He said that it is crucial that the EU work to integrate the Balkans in the next five years. Serbia is key but it is drifting. The EU needs to be more engaged there and to show more political will in dealing with the question of Montenegro. On Romania and Bulgaria, the European Commission has concerns about its progress on closing three acquis chapters particularly in the justice and home affairs area. The Commission needs to do more to keep both Bulgaria and Romania moving towards their 2007 target date (a date that could slip). ¶6. (C) Grela said that it is essential that the US and the EU work together to revive the transatlantic relations particularly in the areas of the EU's common foreign and security policy (CFSP) and European security and defense policies (ESDP). Poland wants EU efforts in ESDP to also complement those of NATO. Grela said that US/EU cooperation in foreign policy should focus on the Middle-East P