GOI PARTICIPATION IN TRANSATLANTIC ENERGY

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 001335 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/05/2016 TAGS: ENRG EPET ECON PREL IT EU SUBJECT: GOI PARTICIPATION IN TRANSATLANTIC ENERGY CONFERENCE REF: STATE 63866 Classified By: Acting EcMin Kathleen Reddy for reasons 1.4 (c) and (d) ¶1. (C) As instructed reftel, DCM and A/Ecmin met April 28 with Dutch DCM Joost Reintjes and Senior Economic Advisor Chris Schoenmakers to discuss European energy security issues and GON plans for a May 18 Conference on Transatlantic Energy Security. DCM Reintjes requested USG assistance in determining whether the Italian Foreign Minister will attend the May 18 conference, and expressed concern that without a sufficiently high level of representation from EU Member States, the conference will not be able to make progress on policy-level energy security issues. ¶2. (C) In a subsequent conversation between A/Ecmin and MFA Director General for Multilateral Economic Affairs Giandomenico Magliano (Undersecretary for Economic Affairs (E)-equivalent),Magliano said the recent change in government made it unclear whether the Foreign Minister would be able to attend. Magliano, who was traveling until May 2, added it is unlikely FM Fini will attend in the last days of the current government. Similarly, Magliano thinks it unlikely the next Foreign Minister will choose to attend the May 18 conference in the opening days of a new government. The current GOI plan, according to Magliano, is for the Italian Ambassador to the Netherlands to represent the GOI at the conference. ¶3. (C) Comment. The Dutch DCM's request for assistance reflects GON concern regarding the level of representation at the May 18 conference. The timing of the conference and the pace of forming a new Italian government is such that GOI participation at the ministerial level is highly unlikely. End comment. SPOGLI