LITHUANIAN LEADERSHIP ON EU CRISES

C O N F I D E N T I A L VILNIUS 000641

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/NB

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/19/2015
TAGS: PREL EAGR LH
SUBJECT: LITHUANIAN LEADERSHIP ON EU CRISES


Classified By: Political/Economic Officer Alexander Titolo for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: President Valdas Adamkus and Foreign
Minister Antanas Valionis, who both witnessed the collapse of
the EU summit last week, discussed recent events in the EU
separately with the Ambassador on the margins of June 20
meetings on Iraq. Adamkus offered an insight into his
dealing with French President Jacques Chirac at the June 17
EU's budget meeting in Brussels. Valionis said that there
are multiple crises facing the EU, with more difficultly
looming ahead. He also expressed concern about the
membership aspirations of nations on the EU's border, which
the GOL has enthusiastically supported. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) Adamkus relayed to the Ambassador a brief exchange he
had with the French President at last week's budget meeting.
In response to Chirac's comment that "We (the EU) have
problems," Adamkus replied, "Yes, and France could do more to
solve them." Valionis attributed the collapse of the EU
Summit in Brussels to a "crisis of leaders," pointing
particularly to Chirac and German Chancellor Gerhard
Schroeder, whom he described as "weak." On the other hand,
UK Prime Minister Tony Blair was "strong after his recent
election victory." Valionis remarked that the one party to
benefit from the EU's recent difficulties is Russia, which
"feels strengthened." Valionis predicted that in addition to
the French and Dutch "no" votes and the EU's failure to agree
to a budget, a "third crisis" looming in the EU's near-future
is debate over reform of the Common Agriculture Policy.


3. (C) The Ambassador commended Valionis for the
constructive role Lithuania played in trying to reach budget
deal. Valionis explained that the offer the GOL made along
with other new EU members to forgo some of the future aid it
expected to receive was an effort to help reach agreement
now, rather than later. He said that Lithuania stands to
lose funds by the delay.


4. (C) Valionis said that the GOL is concerned that a
repercussion of the EU's recent setbacks could be the halting
of the enlargement process. He cited the membership
aspirations of Ukraine, Moldova and Turkey as particularly
imperiled. He highlighted the danger to NATO's cohesiveness
if Turkey is shut out of the EU.


5. (C) COMMENT: Lithuania has a lot at stake in the
resolution of the EU's current dilemmas. The GOL is keen to
protect as much of the structural funds it expects to receive
in the EU's next budget as possible. Both President Adamkus
and the Brazuaskas government have also invested much
political capital it promoting the membership goals of the
nations on the EU's border, which they see as a key to their
overarching foreign policy goal of promoting democratic,
pro-Western regimes in the region. The EU's current
difficulties have thus cast GOL leaders into the role of
compromise-seekers.
Mull