Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06VIENNA1552
2006-05-31 11:56:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Vienna
Cable title:  

May 4 EU Ministerial on the Role of Internal

Tags:  PREL PGOV CVIS CPAS KCRM KFRD SMIG EUN AU 
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VZCZCXRO2940
RR RUEHAST
DE RUEHVI #1552/01 1511156
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 311156Z MAY 06
FM AMEMBASSY VIENNA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3653
RHEFHLC/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHDC
RUEAWJA/DOJ WASHDC
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 06 VIENNA 001552 

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STATE FOR CA, EUR/ERA, EUR/PGI AND EUR/AGS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV CVIS CPAS KCRM KFRD SMIG EUN AU
SUBJECT: May 4 EU Ministerial on the Role of Internal
Security in Relations between the EU and its neighbors

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THIS MESSAGE IS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 06 VIENNA 001552

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SIPDIS

STATE FOR CA, EUR/ERA, EUR/PGI AND EUR/AGS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV CVIS CPAS KCRM KFRD SMIG EUN AU
SUBJECT: May 4 EU Ministerial on the Role of Internal
Security in Relations between the EU and its neighbors

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THIS MESSAGE IS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED.


1. (SBU) Summary. Over 50 states and international
organizations attended the May 4-5 Austrian Presidency
sponsored Internal Security Ministerial, designed in part to
implement the EU JHA External Strategy paper adopted in
December 2005. A U.S. delegation led by Attorney General
Gonzales, who was accompanied by DHS Deputy Secretary
Jackson participated as observers, as did a Russian
delegation. The EU Ministerial followed the first-ever
informal meeting of the U.S., Russia and the EU to discuss
possible tripartite cooperation in the field of Justice and
Home Affairs. (see SEPTEL) The meeting produced a Vienna
Declaration on Security Partnership (see para 10) and the
signing of a Police Cooperation Convention for SouthEast
Europe meant to expand cooperation between the EU and police
forces in Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia, Moldova,
Montenegro, Romania and Serbia. The Attorney General
delivered a statement (sent via e-mail to JHA Washington
addresses) which noted some differences of approach between
the EU and U.S. to the global issues of terrorism and
organized crime and corruption, but urged expanded
international cooperative efforts to combat these problems.
End Summary.


2. (SBU) Austrian Interior Minister Prokop opened the
discussion by noting that current threats such as terrorism
and organized crime and corruption required an international
response. This was the basis of the JHA External Strategy
paper adopted in December and the focal point of the EU
Ministerial. EU Commissioner Frattini outlined the
Commission's efforts to link visa facilitation with
readmission agreements and other methods to secure border
security and combat illegal immigration while advancing
security partnerships. External Affairs Commissioner
Feraldo-Waldner argued that by helping neighbors in accord

with its European Neighbor Policy (ENP),the EU was helping
itself. She urged a particular focus on good governance and
economic reform.

--------------
Panel 1 - Asylum and Migration
--------------


3. (SBU) The Slovenian Minister of the Interior chaired
the first panel discussion on asylum and migration with
Commissioner Frattini urging that the issue of immigration
be treated as a whole with an emphasis on both border
security and the root causes of migration in source
countries. In particular he urged that trafficking victims
be protected. Representatives from Russia, Turkey, the UK,
Libya, Albania, Bosnia, Azerbaijan, Jordan, Greece, Syria,
Morocco, Malta, the European Parliament (EP),Tunisia, IOM,
OHR commented during the debate, mostly describing their own
efforts to combat illegal immigration. The Libya
representative emphasized the need to deal with the root
causes of migration, while the Jordanian stressed that both
countries of origin and receiving countries must benefit
from proposed solutions. Malta suggested the establishment
of a fund to assist those struggling with the problem and
the representative of the EP called for the Commission to
rethink its approach to the problem.


4. (U) Conclusions from the debate were summarized by the
Slovenian chair and are contained in the relevant section of
the Vienna Declaration.

-------------- --------------
Panel 2 - Organized Crime and Corruption
-------------- --------------


5. (SBU) Russian Minister of the Interior Nurgaliev
delivered his general statement calling for more
international cooperation against organized crime and
corruption that was increasingly becoming global and acting
in the economic sphere. He said Russia was committed to
closer law enforcement cooperation with the EU and UK and
described Russia's current cooperation with Finland on their
joint border. He invited countries to attend an anti-
terrorist training exercise in Novosibersk in November and
stated that Russia was also willing to provide border
security training, especially to Central Asian states. He
described Russian cooperation with France, Spain and Israel
with regard to money-laundering and urged greater
international cooperation in the fight against TIP, noting
that there were sometimes procedural problems prosecuting
organizers in neighboring countries which might be resolved

VIENNA 00001552 002.2 OF 006


by improved and more efficient data exchange, utilizing
EUROPOL and INTERPOL. Concluding he urged greater
harmonization of national legislation in this area and
improved analysis and information exchange.


6. (SBU) The Finnish Chairman cited the Baltic Sea Task
Force and the Prune Treaty as two excellent examples of
international cooperation against organized crime and urged
greater use of public/private partnerships to combat crime
and terrorism. Commissioner Frattini agreed on the need to
strengthen analysis and to use a common statistical database
in the fight against crime. He described EU efforts to
harmonize national legislation and to implement the TIP EU
action plan. UNODC chief urged the EU to export security
and focus on a prevention strategy. The Norwegian
representative cited the need for a) transparency; 2)
relevant laws and enforcement; and 3) the protection of
investigators in the fight against corruption.


7. (SBU) Turkey, Georgia, Germany, the UK, Albania, the
EP, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Macedonia, Bosnia, Lebanon,
Libya, Greece, Poland, France, Jordan, and the Council of
Europe also spoke on this subject, primarily to describe the
actions they have taken against organized crime and
corruption. Georgia discussed the phenomenon of "criminals-
in-law" and warned that the influence of the Russian mafia
was spreading. Germany singled out the problem of Afghan
drug trafficking. Albania noted that is was attempting to
deal with this "inherited problem." The EP stressed that
TIP was increasing and urged that authorities deal with the
"demand problem." The Netherlands urged that we use the
instruments we have now more effectively and stressed the
important of intelligence assessments. Lebanese
representative noted the effects of political and cross-
border terrorism, as well as assassination.


8. (U) The Finnish Chairman summarized the conclusions and
asked that they be included in the Vienna Declaration.

--------------
U.S. Statement
--------------


9. (U) Attorney General Gonzales delivered the U.S.
statement (e-mailed to JHA addresses) in which he contrasted
the differences of approach between the EU and U.S. in their
respective fight against terrorism, but noted the our common
objectives were very similar. He urged even greater
international cooperation in the future.

--------------
Panel 3 - Combating Terrorism
--------------


10. (SBU) The Portuguese Chairman introduced EU
Commissioner Frattini who described the EU's counter-
terrorist strategy in terms of a) prevent; b) protect; c)
pursue; and d) respond, indicating the need to explore the
real roots of radicalization and recruitment, protect
critical infrastructure and make full use of EUROJUST and
EUROPOL. He again stressed victim protection as an
important element of the strategy.


11. (SBU) The Ukraine, Lebanon, Azerbaijan, Bosnia, the
EP, Syria, Turkey, France, Russia, Serbia, Egypt, Albania,
Luxembourg, Israel, the Netherlands, Armenia, Hungary,
Council of Europe, Libya, and the UK spoke on this issue.
Lebanon urged that the huge injustices which fueled
radicalization, especially those against the Palestinians,
must be addressed. Syria said that it had suffered greatly
from terrorism and urged that a distinction be made between
"terrorists and freedom fighters." Turkey described its new
anti-terrorist legislation, particularly those related to
victim compensation. France singled out police cooperation
as being particularly in the fight against terrorism.
Russia emphasized the need to prevent terrorists from
obtaining non-conventional weapons and WMD. With regard to
Chechnya, he said that political and social institutions
were being developed, but there was still resistance, some
of its stemming from foreign ideologies, Serbia said that
so-called freedom fighters on its borders were actually
terrorists and asserted that Al-Qaeda cells were being
developed in the region.


12. (SBU) Noting that EU members had not spoken much in
the debate, Luxembourg Minister Frieden said that EU Counter-
terrorist policy was based on the need for efficient and

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effective international cooperation with states which
observed the rule of law and an independent judiciary; he
urged a better definition of who our enemies are, strengthen
EU institutions, and an internal debate on how to handle
those suspected of terrorist activities. Israel said it was
glad to be speaking among its Euromed partners, which was
where it belonged and said that Israel supported dialogue
and did not link terrorism to any particular religion. He
supported the aims of the meeting, but said that it was
important to combine words with deeds, noting that one EU
member state apparently was granting a visa to Hamas. The
Council of Europe representative outlined the various anti-
terrorist conventions and urged that they be signed and
ratified. Libya stated its concern that the previous
situation in Afghanistan where terrorists left that country
to export terrorism elsewhere was repeating itself. He
urged that terrorists not be given a pretext such as foreign
occupation for their actions.


13. (U) The Portuguese chair than summarized the debate and
asked that it be included in the Vienna Declaration.
Representatives of future Council Presidencies then outlined
their priorities in the field of JHA with Finland stating
that it intended to increase the visibility of JHA issues
during its Presidency, particularly those related to a
common asylum system, external relations and border
security, expanded use of the availability principle and
data exchanges and Schengen assessments, particularly those
for the Baltics. The German representative said that
Germany would stress continuity, but focus on "security for
citizens." Portugal said it wished to eradicate internal
border controls vis--vis the new member states and
reinforce EU-Africa JHA cooperation, especially in sub-
Sahara Africa. Slovenia, as the first of the new member
states to assume the Presidency (in January 2008) said it
also planned to focus on the Western Balkans and continued
EU-U.S.-Russian cooperation.

--------------
The Vienna Declaration
--------------


14. (U) There follows the text of the Vienna Declaration:

"Vienna Declaration on Security Partnership"
A Ministerial Conference on the "Role of Internal Security
in Relations between the EU and its Neighbours" was held on
4-5 May 2006 in Vienna, Austria.

At the initiative of Austria as the current Presidency of
the EU Council, Member States of the European Union and its
neighbouring countries met to discuss issues of common
interest in relation to internal security.

The Neighbouring Arab Countries participated in the
Conference. They emphasized that security is an issue of
common interest. They expressed the importance of
partnership for security with the EU in accordance with
their respective objectives and priorities. They also
underlined the need for further consultations on the
modalities for such partnership.

The Russian Federation and the United States of America, as
strategic partners of the European Union, participated in
the Conference as observers.

The Conference expressed the common wish to develop a
"Partnership for Security" in order to work towards an
enhanced area of Freedom, Security and Justice.


Part I

General principles / Key elements

In order to meet the expectations of our citizens we must
respond to the security threats of terrorism, organised
crime, corruption and drugs and to the challenge of managing
migration flows. In an increasingly interconnected world,
cooperation in the field of justice and home affairs will
become ever more important.

The Austrian EU Presidency therefore took the opportunity to
bring together the EU, its Member States and neighbouring
countries, as well as the Russian Federation and the United
States of America as observers. This dialogue is a step in
implementing the Strategy for the External Dimension of

VIENNA 00001552 004.2 OF 006


freedom, security and justice recently adopted by the
European Union, together with the action-oriented papers on
the Western Balkans and relevant ENP countries as well as on
Afghanistan.

This process culminated in the present Vienna Ministerial
Conference on 4-5 May 2006, with Ministers and
representatives from more than 50 countries and
international organisations, as the expression of the
increasing role of internal security in external relations.

The development of an area of enhanced freedom, security and
justice can only be successfully achieved through
relationships based on mutual partnership between the
European Union and its partners. To address the common
security challenges in the 21st century, the participants in
the Conference expressed their common wish to develop a
"Partnership for Security", based on mutual trust and common
interest. Such a partnership between interested countries
will be future and action oriented, and based on the
following key principles:
Definition of concrete areas of common interest in the
fields of combating terrorism, organised crime, corruption
as well as in the field of management of migration flows.
Coordinated engagement, mutual understanding and
cooperation in order to tackle common problems and meet
shared policy objectives in the field of justice and home
affairs.
Efforts to make justice and home affairs a shared
priority in external relations, including through a
coordinated engagement in the work of relevant international
organistions (United Nations, Council of Europe, OSCE). Work towards action
oriented solutions, especilly on
terrorism, organised crime, corruption an illegal
immigration.
Applying a differentiated and flexible approach,
ach,
including a muti-discipinary assessment of needs.
Promotig rule of law, democracy, fundamental rights
andgood governance seen also as a means of bolstering
security.
Mobilisation of political, financal and operational
resources to work towards comon objectives.

Internal and external security ae closely related.
Therefore priorities for future engagement should be formed
by both, the partners' internal and external policy
objectives.
The Conference especially emphasizes that the
European Neighbourhood Policy offers a coherent
framework for cooperation on security-related matters with
the EU.
prospect of closer cooperation with the EU is an
effective way to align with common international standards
in justice and home affairs.

In an increasingly global economy, effective co-operation on
justice and home affairs issues also supports the Partners'
economic and trade objectives, by providing a political and
and
legal environment conducive to economic development and the
development of international commercial links.


Part II

The Conference focused on three priority areas: combating
terrorism, organised crime and corruption and
migration/asylum. Along the lines of the principles
identified above, concrete measures and actions have been
identified and agreed. They are briefly spelled out under
each chapter hereinafter.


Combating terrorism

Recent terrorist atrocities underline the fact that it is no
longer useful strictly to distinguish between internal and
external security, and that terrorism is increasingly trans-
national in nature. As a consequence, international co-
operation to prevent and fight terrorism should be a
fundamental element of external relations.

The Conference has identified the following measures to be
implemented within the field of combating terrorism:

Common efforts to prevent terrorism by measures against

VIENNA 00001552 005.2 OF 006


radicalisation and recruitment, especially considering the
need to develop further the dialogue between cultures and
religions.
Improving the exchange of information with all
countries to identify terrorists, disrupt their activities
and to bring them to justice.
Joint efforts for a comprehensive convention against
terrorism within the UN as well as the implementation of the
existing UN Conventions against Terrorism.
Cooperation in the field of critical infrastructure
protection.


Organised crime and corruption

Organised and serious crime increasingly acts across
borders. This results in a terrible cost for individuals.
The Conference has identified the following measures to be
implemented within the field of organised crime and
corruption:

Need for increased and targeted training of national
law enforcement officers, prosecutors and judges.
Capacity building assistance to third countries.
ies.
Need for harmonisation of measures to protect victims,
in particular trafficked women and children, in accordance
with the applicable EU, Council of Europe and UN
instruments.
Development of efficient and fast practical cooperation
in fighting trafficking in human beings, smuggling of drugs
as well as small arms.
Use the expertise and capacities of relevant bodies
like Europol and Eurojust.


Migration / Asylum

The Conference recognises that global migration, including
the problem of illegal immigration, presents particular
challenges. Managed effectively migration can have a
substantial positive impact both for host and source
countries and for migrants. However, it is essential to
tackle the problem of illegal immigration and to prevent and
fight the trafficking in human beings, while at the same
time to protect the human rights of migrants.

The Conference has identified the following measures to be
implemented within the field of migration and asylum:

:

Establishment of closer cooperation on migration issues
with countries and regions of origin, transit and
destination, including cooperation in asylum management,
based on international standards, good practices and common
procedures.
Intensification of cooperation on capacity building
with the countries concerned to develop national legal
procedures and guaranties corresponding to international
law.
A clear commitment to increase mutual cooperation, to
improve security standards of travel documents and to
introduce biometrics in travel documents.
Support to the establishment of functional border
control systems and to the joint approach in training of
police, frontier guards and customs.
Use of the expertise and capacities of existing
relevant bodies.
Conclusion and implementation of mutual Readmission
Agreements.
Deepening of dialogue and intensification of the
partnership between the EU and key source countries and
es and
regions, in particular with African countries, countries in
the eastern neighbourhood of the EU and regional
organisations.
Promotion of public awareness in countries of origin,
transit and destination on opportunities and limitations as
well as rights and obligations concerning migration.


Part III

Austria as the current Presidency of the Council of the
European Union will report on the results of the Ministerial
Conference, held on 4-5 May 2006 in Vienna, to the Council

VIENNA 00001552 006.2 OF 006


of Justice and Home Affairs Ministers of the EU as well as
to the European Council in June 2006.

The agreed Partnership for Security should especially be
implemented through initiatives based on a differentiated
and flexible approach to individual countries and regions,
including a multi-disciplinary assessment of need.
MCCAW