Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04DUBLIN886
2004-06-09 17:45:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Dublin
Cable title:  

CIVAIR DEMARCHE ON US-EU AGREEMENT - IRELAND

Tags:  EAIR EU 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L DUBLIN 000886 

SIPDIS

EB/TRA - JBYERLY/LFAUX-GABLE; EUR/ERA - KALLEGRONE; EUR/UBI
- CKRAFFT

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/09/2009
TAGS: EAIR EU
SUBJECT: CIVAIR DEMARCHE ON US-EU AGREEMENT - IRELAND

REF: STATE 124593

Classified By: AMBASSADOR JAMES KENNY PER 1.5 (B) AND (D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L DUBLIN 000886

SIPDIS

EB/TRA - JBYERLY/LFAUX-GABLE; EUR/ERA - KALLEGRONE; EUR/UBI
- CKRAFFT

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/09/2009
TAGS: EAIR EU
SUBJECT: CIVAIR DEMARCHE ON US-EU AGREEMENT - IRELAND

REF: STATE 124593

Classified By: AMBASSADOR JAMES KENNY PER 1.5 (B) AND (D)


1. (C) Drawing on reftel points, pol/econ chief met on June
9 with Irish Civil Aviation Director General John Lumsden to
discuss how to move forward the U.S.-EU air services
agreement before the June 26 US-EU Summit. Lumsden noted
that, following the excellent meeting last month in Ljubljana
between Irish Minister of Transport Seamus Brennan and U.S.
Secretary Mineta, Brennan is determined to do his utmost to

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secure support for an agreement among his colleagues in the
June 10-11 EU Transport Ministers meeting in Brussels.
Lumsden added that Brennan intended to start with phone calls
today, beginning with his British counterpart. Lumsden said
that Brennan was not just doing this to further progress on
an amended US-Ireland civair agreement, but because it was
his responsibility as head of the Transport Council during
the Irish EU Presidency.


2. (C) Lumsden said that there is no prospect this week for
a Ministers' consensus approving the current U.S.-EU
agreement. Instead, Brennan's objective is to get a positive
tone from his EU colleagues that minimizes opposition and
achieves a broad consensus to further pursue a first-step
agreement before the June 26 Summit. Lumsden noted that we
should, therefore, anticipate Irish Presidency vice Council
conclusions on June 11. Lumsden said one positive factor is
that the US-EU agreement is scheduled for discussion over
lunch on June 11, which is restricted to Ministers only.
This should facilitate a full and frank airing of Member
States' political views. While Lumsden confirmed that the UK
is telling them it sees no prospect of an agreement before
June 26, the Irish strategy between now and the Summit is to
get a consensus of 24 Member States on the essential elements
of an agreement, with only details left to be ironed out
after June 26. If that happens, the Irish believe the UK
will reluctantly climb on board.


3. (C) Lumsden stressed that the end of the Transport
Council meeting on June 11 will provide clarity on whether
the US and EU should engage again on an agreement before the
Summit. If there is a broadly held view that the U.S. and EU
are close to an agreement and further negotiations may close
the gap, then the EU will call for an additional round of
negotiations to try and conclude a deal/package that can be
announced at the Summit. Otherwise, it will have to await
the Dutch EU Presidency. Lumsden added that, if there is a
breakthrough on an agreement, then the Irish will want to
conclude bilateral talks with the U.S. as quickly as possible
after July 9, when the Irish Dail (parliament) is in recess,
freeing up Brennan to travel to Washington to meet with
Mineta to discuss the outlines of a final U.S.-Ireland
agreement.
KENNY