U.S.-EUROPEAN CT AND JHA AFFAIRS: CONFERENCE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 BRUSSELS 000934 SIPDIS FOR GLOBAL AFFAIRS OFFICERS; ALL MISSIONS FOR LEGATTS, DEA COUNTRY ATTACHES, TREASURY ENFORCEMENT REPRESENTATIVES, HOMELAND SECURITY REPRESENTATIVES; DEPARTMENT FOR INL/PC, S/CT, EUR/ERA AND EUR/PGI; JUSTICE FOR OIA AND OPDAT; TREASURY FOR ENFORCEMENT E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KCRM KJUS PREL PTER CVIS EUN USEU BRUSSELS SUBJECT: U.S.-EUROPEAN CT AND JHA AFFAIRS: CONFERENCE INVITATION FOR OFFICERS AT POST ¶1. Summary: The U.S. Mission to the European Union (USEU) will sponsor a two-day conference in Brussels for U.S. officers at posts in the EUR region on U.S. counterterrorism policy in Europe and Eurasia and critical issues in the area of Justice and Home Affairs (JHA). The conference will open with one day dedicated to U.S. counterterrorism policy and the role of posts in promoting the CT agenda. Proposed topics include public diplomacy and efforts to counteract radicalization and recruitment; border and transport security; and law enforcement and intelligence cooperation in counterterrorism. ¶2. During the second day the participants will be divided between those coming from EU and non-EU posts. Those coming from EU posts will examine European Integration and its impact on JHA and Security Cooperation. Proposed topics include EU CT Policy and Structure and U.S-EU Counterterrorism Cooperation; The EU and its relationship to third countries and selected multilateral organizations such as NATO; EU Enforcement Integration; critical EU institutions; and data protection and information sharing. For those coming from non-EU posts, proposed topics include Crime Threats to the Balkans and Eurasia, Best Practices regarding issues of terrorist finance, UN Committees/designations, corruption, rule of law, and bioterrorism; and the relationship of non- EU countries to the Council of Europe. ¶3. Participants should also consider attending an optional full-day breakout session on terrorist finance on the day following the conference. See para. twelve below. ¶4. The audience for this invitation-only conference includes Department of State, and law enforcement personnel from Justice, Treasury, and Homeland Security assigned to EUR posts. Due to space limitations, participation by Washington, D.C. headquarters staff will be reserved for speakers, with a limited number of spaces for personnel with CT or international law enforcement portfolios; Department will follow up with agencies in Washington directly. The conference will be held in Brussels on May 31-June 1. Missions are requested to review this cable and respond to USEU and State with indications of interest no later than April 1. Please slug cables for USEU/DOJ/NAS, EUR/ERA, EUR/PGI and S/CT. Negative replies are also requested. A separate cable containing detailed administrative information will be sent septel. End Summary. -------------- Background -------------- ¶5. U.S. cooperation with European and Eurasian countries and the EU in combating global terrorism is one of the most important aspects of our transatlantic relationship. 9/11 and the Madrid, London, Beslan and other attacks in Europe and around the globe have focused attention on both sides of the Atlantic on the importance of deep and effective relationships to better protect our homeland. In addition, there have been a number of developments in the broader area of Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) which impact on U.S. law enforcement cooperation in Europe. With CT and JHA issues asserting an ever more prominent role in the overall transatlantic relationship, the U.S. Mission to the EU will sponsor a two-day conference to discuss these developments and to further understanding of U.S. counterterrorism policy. The conference will be held in Brussels May 31-June 1 2006. It is designed for embassy/consulate officers with counterterrorism responsibilities and law enforcement personnel who are stationed at EUR posts. ¶6. As reflected in the notional list of topics in para. 14 below, the objective is to review recent developments in these areas, to consider their potential impact on U.S. law enforcement and foreign policy interests, and to articulate steps for advancing the U.S. agenda in this regard. We are asking that you nominate or confirm participation of appropriate personnel to this program. Due to space limitations (a total of 150 participants - 100 from State and 50 from law enforcement agencies),we are forced to limit State Department participation to two participants per post. Posts may nominate one or two others but these will be put on a waitlist for available slots. All other agencies are invited to nominate one participant per post, with additional nominations put on a similar waitlist basis. -------------- Details -------------- ¶7. Costs: The costs of the conference will be met through a conference fee to be paid by each participant. The amount of that fee will be announced in the administrative cable to follow septel, but will be at least 100 Euros. Home agencies/missions of attendees are also responsible for travel costs and per diem. ¶8. Location: The conference will be held at the Hilton Hotel in downtown Brussels near the USEU Mission and bilateral embassy. Details will be forthcoming in the administrative cable. ¶9. Lodging: A block of 150 rooms has been reserved at the hotel where the conference is held. Participants will be required to contact the hotel directly to make their reservations. Information on making reservations and alternate hotels within USG per diem rates will be included in the administrative cable. ¶10. Attendees: Due to space considerations, the conference is limited to the following categories of participants: -- Two State Department Global Affairs/Political/Economic/Consular Officers with specific responsibility for counterterrorism/JHA/transportation security/transborder crime issues. In addition, one officer from one of the agencies below at post: -- Department of Justice regional legal advisors or attaches -- Department of Homeland Security, including ICE, TSA, CBP, USCG, CIS, FEMA, and Secret Service. -- Department of Treasury. ¶11. Nominations: Nominations should be made by cable no later than April 1. Cable information should include: name, position, title, contact phone/fax numbers, projected travel dates and dates of conference participation, and level of security clearance. Nomination cables should be sent to USEU Brussels for USEU/NAS/DOJ. Info addressees on the nomination cable should include Secstate (captioned State for EUR/ERA Alessandro Nardi and EUR/PGI Lonni Reasor),Department of Justice, and Department of Homeland Security. A separate cable containing detailed administrative information, including how to make hotel reservations, will be sent septel. Note that nomination cables and hotel reservations are two separate procedures. ¶12. Posts should also indicate their interest in sending a representative who handles terrorism finance issues to an optional full-day breakout session Friday June 2 on terrorist financing. This can be one of the representatives already attending the May 31-June 1 CT/JHA conference, or post can choose to send the terrorism finance coordination officer (TFCO) if this individual is not already attending the CT/JHA conference. Washington is prepared to organize a practitioners workshop that day aimed at a dialogue with embassy terrorism finance coordinators (TFCOs) or deputies on promoting greater cooperation with host governments and Washington agencies. Notional topics include: FATF and FSRB initiatives, implementation of UN 1373, listing/de-listing issues, cash couriers, non-profit organizations, options for cooperation on investigation, prosecution, designation and technical assistance. ¶13. Contacts: Questions and requests for further information can be addressed to conference organizers: At USEU: -- Frank Kerber, Counselor for Narcotics/Law Enforcement Affairs -- Kristin Roberts, Staff Aide, USEU/EXEC -- Fran Albers-Schoenberg, Staff Aide, USEU/ECON -- Joan Klotz, Justice/INL Program Assistant (handling administrative issues for conference) Telephone: (32) (2) 508-2667; Fax: (32) (2) 512-0069 Email: Kerber/Roberts/Albers-Schoenberg/Klotz are on State classified and unclassified systems. At State: -- Alessandro Nardi, EUR/ERA Telephone: (202) 647-3843; Fax: (202) 647-9959 Email: NardiAP@state.gov -- Lonni Reasor, EUR/PGI Telephone: (202) 647-6736; Fax: (202) 647-0697 Email: ReasorLH@state.gov ¶14. List of Topics: Below is a notional list of topics to be covered over the two days. The final agenda is still being prepared and will be available in April. Suggestions from post are encouraged and welcomed. Conference on U.S.-European Counterterrorism Policy and Justice and Home Affairs May 31-June 1, 2006 Brussels Day 1 (May 31) Counterterrorism Conference -------------- --- Proposed topics: - U.S. CT Policy and the Role of Posts in Promoting the CT Agenda - Public Diplomacy and Efforts to Counter Radicalization and Recruitment (to include Terrorist Exploitation of Cyberspace) - Border and Transportation Security Issues (cross-border transit of people, goods, and conveyances, and urban/mass transit) - Law Enforcement and Intelligence Cooperation in Counterterrorism Day 2 (June 1) (for participants from EU and accession state posts) European Integration and its Impact on JHA and Security Cooperation -------------- -------------- -------------- Proposed topics: - EU CT Policy and structures and U.S.-EU Counterterrorism Cooperation (internal/external) - EU and its relationship to third countries and selected multilateral organizations, including NATO (competencies, overlapping responsibilities) - EU Enforcement Integration (arrest warrant, mutual recognition of judgments, etc.) - Critical EU Institutions: Europol, Eurojust, FRONTEX, OLAF, Eurodac, Schengen - Data Protection and Information Sharing Day 2 (June 1) (for participants from non-EU posts) -------------- -------------- Proposed topics: - Threats to the Balkans and Eurasia - Best Practices for non-EU countries regarding: Rule of Law, Corruption, Terrorist Finance, UN Committees/Designations, and Bioterrorism - Relationship of non-EU countries to the Council of Europe ¶15. Special note for participants coming from EU posts: Conference organizers would like to make the session on Day Two as participative as possible. Participants from EU posts are therefore requested to be prepared to discuss one or more of the following topics as it is currently being addressed by the government in their host country and on any relevant U.S.-host government cooperation: CT policy, border and/or transport security, data protection and information sharing, or use of the European arrest warrant. Gray .