CENTRAL DUBLIN GROUP MEETING: FEBRUARY 2006

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 000835

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR INL/PC LAURA MCKECHNIE; USMISSION UNVIE FOR
HOWARD SOLOMON

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID KCRM PREL SNAR EUN USEU BRUSSELS
SUBJECT: CENTRAL DUBLIN GROUP MEETING: FEBRUARY 2006

REF: BRUSSELS 2418


1. Summary. During its February 22 meeting, the members of
the Central Dublin Group (DG) reviewed regional reports from
Northern Africa (submitted by Spain),Africa (France),the
Caribbean (France),Central America (US),South America
(Spain),as well as an interim report from the June 2005
meeting on Eastern Europe (Germany). The Group adopted the
guidelines for restructuring that were first proposed in
draft form in June 2005. Guidelines regarding DG membership
will be changed to read &258 EU Member States, leaving the
question of automatic membership of new EU accession states
beyond the current 25 to future meetings. In addition, any
reference to English as a working language was taken out of
official documents upon the insistence of the Belgian and
French delegations. Japanese Ambassador Shigeki Sumi
replaced outgoing Belgian chair Raymond Yans. Two new DG
members (Poland and Cyprus) became Mini-Dublin Groups Chairs,
and there was some rearranging of other chairs as well. In
addition, in future reports, Belize will become part of the
Caribbean Mini Dublin Group, which will be covered by the
United Kingdom. Action requests follow in para. six below.
End summary.

REGIONAL REPORTS
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2. The members reviewed regional reports covering: Northern
Africa (submitted by Spain); Africa (France); the Caribbean
(France); Central America (US); South America (Spain); and an
interim report on Eastern Europe (Germany). During its
presentation on Northern Africa, Spain highlighted Morocco,s
status as one of the top global producers of cannabis (and
single-greatest source for the drug in Europe). France
reported that the East and West coasts of Sub-Saharan Africa
remain porous transit routes, and that there is a need for
countries in the region to develop national data compilation
capacities to better track the phenomenon. During its
presentation on the Caribbean, France reported that drug
consumption and cocaine and heroin trafficking (especially to
Europe) in the region have increased. Regional cooperation
on drug trafficking has also increased, but law enforcement
resources are lacking (a complaint that was nearly universal
in all regional reports) and further cross-border cooperation
is needed. In its remarks, the United States echoed all of
the same concerns in Central America, and noted that
narco-violence, corruption and money laundering remain
critical barriers to successful counternarcotics programs in
the region. During its presentation on South America, Spain
reported that coca production has increased in Bolivia and
Peru and while decreasing in Colombia, and recommended
increasing alternative development in the region. The U.S.
also joined Spain in urging the DG to collect information on
a broader range of member state drug control programs to
avoid duplication in the region. USDEL and others questioned
some language in the report, and sought and obtained
additional time to allow capitals a chance to review and
clear the report in final as soon as possible. In interim
report on Eastern Europe, Germany reported well-known facts
on transit routes for Afghan heroin through Central Asia and
Russia.

REFORM OF THE DUBLIN GROUP
--------------


3. The Group adopted the guidelines for restructuring the
Group that were first proposed in draft form in June 2005.
Most significantly, the EU accepted the Japanese proposal
regarding DG membership of EU Member States beyond the
current 25. The new guidelines now read "(Dublin Group)
participants include the (25) Member States of the European
Union," leaving the question of automatic membership of new
EU accession states to January 1, when the first new EU
accession states are slated to join the EU. In addition, any
reference to English as a working language was taken out
official documents upon the insistence of the Belgian and
French delegations and due to EU regulations on languages for
official meetings. It was underscored that non-English
papers should be submitted five weeks in advance to allow for
translation. Simultaneous translations into French will also
be provided by the EU when meetings are in Brussels; if
meeting are held in a different venue, English would remain
the working language but the host county would provide
translation services of experts, as needed.

DUBLIN GROUP CHAIRS
--------------

4. Japanese Ambassador Shigeki Sumi became new Chair of the
DG, replacing outgoing Belgian chair Raymond Yans, with
unanimous support. The Group rearranged some of the Regional
Mini-Dublin Group (MDG) Chair responsibilities. Two new
Members - Cyprus and Poland--will subsequently chair the Near
East (including Turkey and Iraq) and Eastern Europe,
respectively. Germany will chair the Balkans. Norway and
Portugal will divide responsibility for East and Southern
Africa (Laura, is this correct interpretation?). Belize will
now be included as part of the Caribbean MDG, chaired by the
United Kingdom.

THEMATIC DEBATE
--------------


5. During the thematic debate on amphetamine-type stimulants
(ATS),Japan presented a report on the growing global problem
with ATS while Belgium noted its domestic local law
enforcement efforts to combat ecstasy production and
trafficking. The European Commission suggested that the next
thematic debate topic could be on African trafficking routes,
and the new Japanese Chair said he would look into this idea
further.

ACTION REQUESTS
--------------


6. The U.S. will need to present an update on its regional
report on Mexico and Central America at the next Dublin Group
to be held June 8 in Brussels. NOTE: New guidelines for
reports were adopted at the June 2005 meeting. The U.S.
reports should therefore follow this new format.
Recommendations from all MDG will now be approved by the
entire DG group. Therefore DG recommendations should
highlight political initiatives and donor priorities.

Gray
.