AMBASSADOR'S INTRODUCTORY CALL ON EP U.S.

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 005137

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/ERA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/06/2014
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR EUN USEU BRUSSELS
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S INTRODUCTORY CALL ON EP U.S.
SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIR

REF: BRUSSELS 5057

Classified By: USEU POLOFF TODD HUIZINGA, FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)


1. (C) SUMMARY: On November 30, Ambassador Schnabel paid an
introductory call on Jonathan Evans, the Chairman of the
European Parliament (EP) Subcommittee on Relations with the
U.S. Evans suggested that an approach concentrating on the
EU institutions in Brussels would be the most effective way
for the U.S. to &mend fences8 with Europe. Evans predicted
that EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson would become the
&transatlantic point man8 in the new European Commission.
Under the right circumstances Evans, the leader of the UK
Conservatives in the EP, could prove a capable U.S.
Subcommittee Chairman. END SUMMARY.

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TARGET BRUSSELS TO MEND FENCES WITH EUROPE
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2. (C) Evans, who was elected Chairman of the EP,s
&Delegation for Relations with the United States8 in
September, took the opportunity afforded by the Ambassador,s
call to outline his take on the best way for the U.S. to
&mend fences with Europe.8 He said the U.S. approach
should concentrate on the EU institutions in Brussels.
Stressing that he, as a UK Conservative, was neither a
believer in further EU integration nor a &multilateralist as
opposed to a bilateralist,8 Evans explained that major
visits by U.S. officials to EU member-state capitals that did
not include discussions in Brussels would be perceived,
rightly or wrongly, as exclusionary of EU member states that
were not part of the itinerary. Making Brussels a priority
would be perceived as including all of Europe and would
strengthen the hand of the majority of EU member states that
favor keeping good relations with the U.S. at the forefront
of the EU agenda. In that context, Evans lauded President
Bush,s plan to visit Brussels early next year.

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MANDELSON WANTS SPECIAL TRANSATLANTIC ROLE
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3. (C) Evans said he had met with new EU Trade Commissioner
Peter Mandelson soon after he had become the UK
Commissioner-designate. Evans said he and Mandelson had long
enjoyed a mutually respectful personal acquaintance despite
their political rivalry in the UK. Echoing what Mandelson
himself had told the Ambassador (reftel),Evans reported that
Mandelson was adamant about his intention to be the Barroso
Commission,s point person on transatlantic relations.
Considering Mandelson,s political and tactical skills, Evans
assessed Mandelson,s chances a &very good8 of wresting
center stage regarding relations with the U.S. from External
Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner. Mandelson,s
principal challenge, Evans predicted, would be avoiding being
labeled as &Blair,s man in Brussels.8

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BIO INFO ON EVANS
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4. (C) Evans, 54, represents Wales in the European
Parliament. He has been an MEP since 1999 and leader of the
UK Conservatives in the EP since 2001. As EP Tory leader,
Evans played a key role in the election of Jim Nicholson to
the post of Chairman of the EP Subcommittee on the U.S.
(Nicholson, an Ulster Unionist, is a member of the UK Tory
group in the EP.) Evans worked hard behind the scenes to
become Nicholson,s successor before stepping down as EP Tory
leader at the end of this year. A lawyer by trade, Evans was
an MP in the House of Commons from 1992-97. From 1992-94 he
served as parliamentary private secretary in the UK Northern
Ireland Office, and he often refers to his experience during
those years as one of the likely targets of IRA terrorism.
From 1994-95 Evans was Corporate Affairs Minister in the UK
Department of Trade and Industry. In 1997, he was appointed
Conservative spokesman for Wales. Evans is intelligent and
articulate. He is a dedicated transatlanticist, but often is
quite sensitive about what he believes are unfair U.S.
attitudes toward Europe and Europeans. He says, for example,
that as a former target of IRA terrorism &largely funded by
sources in the U.S.8 he resents &Republican accusations
that Europeans are soft on terrorism.8 Also, in
conversations with U.S. officials he has expressed
exasperation about the contrast he perceives between UK Prime
Minister Blair,s closeness to President Bush and his
(Evans,) belief that UK Conservative leader Michael Howard
has been &frozen out of the White House.8


5. (C) COMMENT: In Evans, the EP has found a U.S. Delegation
Chairman who is capable, intelligent and ambitious. Whether
his chairmanship will yield positive results will depend both
on how able he proves in overcoming constraints placed on him
by less transatlantically minded committee members, and on
our success in leveraging his position to get results when we
engage the EP on issues of interest to us. END COMMENT.

MCKINLEY