IRISH RESPONSE TO ITER DEMARCHE

C O N F I D E N T I A L DUBLIN 001825

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/21/2014
TAGS: PREL TRGY EUN
SUBJECT: IRISH RESPONSE TO ITER DEMARCHE

REF: STATE 268243

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Jonathan Benton; Reasons 1.5 (B)
and (D).


1. On December 20, Post delivered reftel talking points and
DOE Deputy Secretary McSlarrow's letter to Eamon Hickey,
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Counsellor for European
Union Affairs. Hickey noted that the November 25-26 EU
Competitiveness Council meeting had not shed light on the
Commission's plans to finance ITER. He said that the Irish
Government had previously requested details on financing and
would reiterate this request early in the New Year. Although
the Competitiveness Council had reaffirmed the EU's
commitment to a six-party consensus on ITER, Ireland's
growing impression was that the Commission was prepared to
proceed on its own with the project if necessary, said
Hickey. In that scenario, the issue of funding would become
even more urgent for Member States as the principal
financiers. Hickey also observed that momentum in
discussions between Japan and the EU on a possible
"privileged partnership" had appeared to dissipate following
the Competitiveness Council meeting.
KENNY