EU COMMISSION AND COUNCIL SECRETARIAT VIEWS ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 004665

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/28/2014
TAGS: PREL EAID YI CY UP ZR IS SU SO EUN USEU BRUSSELS
SUBJECT: EU COMMISSION AND COUNCIL SECRETARIAT VIEWS ON
GAERC AGENDA

REF: A. STATE 228399


B. STATE 230353

C. USEU BRUSSELS 4639

D. USEU BRUSSELS 4602

Classified By: Rick Holtzapple, PolOff, Reasons 1.4 (B/D)


1. (C) We shared Ref A and B points with Commission and
Council officials in advance of the Nov. 2 EU FMs (GAERC)
meeting and the Nov. 4-5 European Council summit meeting.
Given the failure of the incoming Barroso Commission to get
parliamentary confirmation (REF C) before this meeting, the
Commission's role in these sessions will be severely
constrained, as it will have to be represented by members of
the caretaker Prodi Commission. We have been told this
ham-strung Commission representation could also limit
conversation on a broad range of agenda items, particularly
at the Nov. 4-5 Summit, where discussion of Barroso's plans
for economic reforms (Lisbon Agenda),the multi-annual
justice and home affairs agenda, and new efforts on
"Communicating Europe" are due to be featured events.


2. (C) Incoming External Relations Commissioner
Ferrero-Waldner had been preparing to attend the Nov. 2
GAERC, and therefore Judith Gebetstroithner, who should
become Ferrero-Waldner's deputy chef de cabinet, was able to
share views on some topics:
-- On Iraq, Gebetstroithner said that Ferrero-Waldner
supports all the planning done under Commissioner Patten for
offering Iraq elections support, shares the same concerns as
those repeatedly expressed by Patten about the security
situation in country. Ferrero-Waldner, therefore, would also
be unlikely to support a full-blown observer presence inside
Iraq in January. She added that discussions on the details
of a police training mission were still underway internally
within the EU.
-- On Iran, Gebetstroithner stressed that the real GAERC
discussion on how to proceed at the IAEA Board of Governors
meeting would be at the November 22 GAERC, not next week.
But she added that, from the briefings she had received, it
was clear that Commission officials handling the issue within
DG RELEX still felt it would be too early to refer the issue
to the UNSC, and that more time should be given for
negotiating with Tehran.
-- Finally, on Somalia, she said the Commission is likely to
approach the Transitional Federal Government in a supportive,
but cautious, manner with a clear understanding that
engagement with the TFG is, at best, the beginning of a
long-term process of reforms. Discussion has begun within
the EU on whether it would be worthwhile to name a EU Special
Envoy for Somalia to take this work forward.


3. (C) On Sudan, Margarita Comamala of the Council
Secretariat, said that Solana's team had returned from their

SIPDIS
recent visit to the region with some concerns about the AU
mission (REF D and previous). In particular, she understood
they still had worries quick deployment of AU monitors could
lead to them being in place, but without the means to perform
their mission. (We called her attention to Ref A's
assurances that support on the ground will be in place). She
noted some concern within Solana's staff that the AU troops
could be drawn beyond their monitoring tasks into peace
enforcement missions, for which they might not be prepared.

McKinley