SPANISH RESPONSE TO JUNE 14-15 EU FMS MEETING

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 002201 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/09/2014 TAGS: PREL SP EUR SUBJECT: SPANISH RESPONSE TO JUNE 14-15 EU FMS MEETING DEMARCHE REF: STATE 125932 Classified By: Kathleen Fitzpatrick, Political Counselor, for Reasons 1 .4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) We delivered reftel demarche on June 10 to Enrique Mora, Director of the MFA's Office of EU Foreign Policy and Common Security. On general questions regarding the EU Constitution, Mora said he thought the EU Constitution would be approved by June 25. He said the double majority population figure would likely be increased to around 62%, not the 66% that Spain had been favoring. He stated that he had not heard of any final choice being made for the successor to EC President Prodi. ¶2. (C) Regarding the Middle East, Mora stated that he did not see a joint action plan between the US Broader Middle East and EU Barcelona Process efforts as being possible, due to funding and scheduling mechanism differences. He said that the best he could foresee would be close cooperation between the US and EU programs in the Broader Middle East and North Africa to ensure that there was no duplication of efforts, but that a joint action plan would not be feasible. He said that there was a better chance of getting a strong joint anti-terrorism plan than there was on development, reform and democracy issues. Mora stated that regarding Iraq, funding had already been committed for the EU's Medium Term Strategy initiative. ¶3. (C) On Iran, Mora said that Spain viewed the El Baradei report on June 1 as showing that, while there were a few shortcomings, the overall situation with Iran is "improving". We stressed the USG view that Iran is continuing its policies of delay, deception and denial, and that Iran continues troubling activity in its enrichment program. Mora stated that the EU views those activities with concern, but that there would be no change in policy until the conclusion of reports due in September or November. He acknowledge that the human rights situation and status of democracy in Iran were deteriorating, but did not offer any comments or changes in Spain's or the EU's position. ¶4. (C) Mora stated that Spain would favor a strong statement on Darfur in the UNSC. He said that the EU had signed an agreement with Sudan to allow for observers and humanitarian assistance in the area. He also confirmed that the European Neighborhood Policy would be broadened to include the South Caucasus. MANZANARES