EU PRESIDENCY TORCHPASSING: JANUARY 9-10, 2006

UNCLAS VIENNA 003889 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/ERA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON CVIS AU EUN SUBJECT: EU PRESIDENCY TORCHPASSING: JANUARY 9-10, 2006 ¶1. This is an action request - please see paragraph 4. ¶2. Embassy Vienna is pleased to host the EU Presidency torch-passing from the United Kingdom to Austria for USG officers on January 9-10, 2006. Post welcomes participants from the State Department, USEU, and Embassies London and Helsinki. The torchpassing will be an opportunity to discuss current US-EU issues and Austrian priorities. We plan to cover political, economic, public diplomacy, and consular issues. ¶3. A detailed schedule and participant list will be sent out closer to the date of the torchpassing. At present, we plan to begin at 10AM on January 9 with a briefing by the Austrian Foreign Ministry on Austria's priorities for its presidency. We are planning a reception the evening of January 9 with GoA contacts working on EU issues. ¶4. Action request: Please send country clearance requests for those who will attend the torchpassing no later than December 23 so that we can finalize our plans and confirm hotel reservations. If you have logistical questions, please contact Econ Unit Chief Phil Nelson at nelsonpr@state.gov. MCCAW