Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05WARSAW1895
2005-04-05 13:46:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Warsaw
Cable title:  

Poland to Host Visegrad Meeting of Environment

Tags:  SENV ECON ENRG ETRD PREL PL EUN 
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UNCLAS WARSAW 001895 

SIPDIS


Sensitive

STATE FOR EUR/NCE TARA ERATH AND MICHAEL SESSUMS
USDOC FOR 4232/ITA/MAC/EUR/JBURGESS AND MWILSON
TREASURY FOR OASIA MATTHEW GAERTNER
STATE PASS TO EPA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV ECON ENRG ETRD PREL PL EUN
SUBJECT: Poland to Host Visegrad Meeting of Environment
Ministers in Krakow, April 7-8

Ref: (A) Warsaw 1396 (B) Warsaw 1555

(U) This cable is sensitive, but unclassified, and NOT for
Internet distribution.

UNCLAS WARSAW 001895

SIPDIS


Sensitive

STATE FOR EUR/NCE TARA ERATH AND MICHAEL SESSUMS
USDOC FOR 4232/ITA/MAC/EUR/JBURGESS AND MWILSON
TREASURY FOR OASIA MATTHEW GAERTNER
STATE PASS TO EPA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV ECON ENRG ETRD PREL PL EUN
SUBJECT: Poland to Host Visegrad Meeting of Environment
Ministers in Krakow, April 7-8

Ref: (A) Warsaw 1396 (B) Warsaw 1555

(U) This cable is sensitive, but unclassified, and NOT for
Internet distribution.


1. (U) On April 7-8, the Polish Minister of Environment will
host his counterparts from Hungary and the Czech and Slovak
Republics in Krakow. MinEnvironment officials report that
the primary focus of the agenda will be to coordinate their
approaches to a variety of environmental issues within the
EU. The ministers will discuss the possibility of
coordinating approaches on climate change issues, including
emissions trading. The EC has not approved National Action
Plans for CO2 emissions for Poland and the Czech Republic,
which could result in significantly reduced access for
Polish and Czech companies to engage in emissions trading on
the common EU market (please see reftels for more details
about Poland's concerns). The ministers will also discuss
their shared concerns about the negative effects on industry
of the EU's proposed REACH directive, and the potential for
cooperating on Lisbon Agenda issues related to the
environment.


2. (U) The Polish Ministry of Environment hopes to exchange
experiences trying to comply with the EU's Waste Directive,
particularly related to requirements to institute recycling
programs for cars and computers. Poland is also interested
in discussing the Nature 2000 Directive and means to finance
programs under it. The ministers are also expected to
discuss common approaches to using structural funds to
support environmental projects.


3. (U) Poland has proposed that the ministers also discuss
the Carpathian Framework Convention, an agreement signed in
2004 the Visegrad countries with Ukraine and Romania to
develop joint projects to improve the regional environment.
Poland is interested in developing specific projects to
follow up on this initiative.


4. (SBU) Comment: Poland has found that it shares many of
the same views as its other three Visegrad colleagues in
meeting EU environmental requirements. It also shares many
of the same concerns, including on issues like REACH and
emissions trading. While our contacts at the Ministry of
Environment do not expect significant achievements from this
meeting, they do hope it will lead to greater policy
coordination among the four in Brussels. The good news is
that, to date, the Polish Government shares many of the same
concerns on these issues as American companies working in
Europe. End comment.

Ashe


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2005WARSAW01895 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED