GERMAN CABINET DISCUSSES FOREIGN POLICY PRIORITIES

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BERLIN 000072

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/AGS, EUR/ERA
USTR FOR MOWREY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/10/2017
TAGS: PREL ECON ETRD PGOV GM EU
SUBJECT: GERMAN CABINET DISCUSSES FOREIGN POLICY PRIORITIES
WITH EU COMMISSIONERS


Classified By: DCM John M. Koenig for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: In a joint meeting on foreign affairs
between German cabinet ministers and their EU Commission
counterparts January 9 in Berlin, EU Trade Commissioner
Mandelson was reportedly upbeat about prospects for moving
forward on Doha. Participants from both sides agreed UN
Special Envoy Ahtisaari should move quickly following the
January 21 Serbian elections and discussed steps the EU
should take to support Ahtisaari's proposals. Participants
discussed a possible ESDP police training mission in
Afghanistan without reaching consensus. On Afghanistan,
Germany prefers to make better use of current structures,
such as the Joint Control and Monitoring Board, as opposed to
creating new organizations. On Africa, Germany will focus
its G-8 efforts on sustainable investment, HIV, and gender
issues. During its EU presidency, Germany will work on
economic partnership agreements and improving assistance
coordination. End Summary.


2. (C) Foreign Ministry Deputy EU Correspondent Thomas Schieb
and MFA Office Director for EU Affairs briefed poloff on the
January 9 foreign policy meeting between EU Commissioners and
German cabinet ministers. The meeting was divided into two
sessions, with the Western Balkans, ESDP, and Africa
discussed in the first session and Doha, Russia, and
Afghanistan in the second. The German side was represented
by Foreign Minister Steinmeier, Defense Minister Jung,
Development Minister Wieczorek-Zeul, and Economics Minister
Glos. External Relations Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner,
Enlargement Commissioner Rehn, Trade Commissioner Mandelson,
and Development Commissioner Michel participated on the EU
side.

Doha


3. (C) Schieb and Schoof both stated that this was a long
session and that Mandelson was upbeat about the possibility
of moving forward on Doha. Mandelson said he was convinced
that President Bush wanted Doha concluded sooner rather than
later. Mandelson reportedly stated we are now moving to the
end game on Doha, and he received clear signals of support
from both the White House and Congress. Steinmeier reported
that President Bush seemed to appreciate Merkel's clear
commitment to Doha. Steinmeier agreed that we are
approaching the end game and that it was important that the
EU refrain from causing any new difficulties. In a separate
meeting with EMIN, Chancellery DG for Economics Jens
Weidmann, reporting on the larger meeting between the German
cabinet and EU Commissioners, said Mandelson was upbeat
regarding his meetings in Washington.

Western Balkans


4. (C) Steinmeier and Rehn agreed that Ahtisaari needs the
full support of the EU and should move quickly after the
January 21 Serbian elections. Steinmeier thought the General
Affairs and External Relations Council would be prepared to
fully endorse Ahtisaari's proposals at its February 12
meeting. There was additional discussion on how to mollify
Serbia given the likelihood that Ahtisaari will propose
increased sovereignty for Kosovo. There was some discussion
of resuming SAA negotiations, but no conclusions were reached
due to concerns over weakening ICTY conditionality.
Participants concluded that the Serbian public would be more
likely to accept Ahtisaari's decision if they believed Serbia
had a clear prospect of EU membership, but how to create this
perception was unresolved.

Afghanistan


5. (C) Participants discussed the possibility of an ESDP
mission without any resolution. Ferrero-Waldner highlighted
the importance of expanding the scope of EU engagement beyond
police training to include judicial reform. Although there
was discussion of France's idea to create a contact group to
improve coordination of the international community's efforts
in Afghanistan, participants agreed most EU member states
oppose this idea. Germany stated its preference to make use
of current structures such as the Joint Control and
Monitoring rather than creating new organizations.

ESDP


6. (C) Steinmeier and Jung led a short session praising the
various ESDP missions. Jung highlighted the importance of
EU-NATO cooperation. The Commission highlighted the
importance of combining civil and military aspects to bring
about success.

Russia


7. (C) Steinmeier discussed his call to the Russian Deputy
Prime Minister to discuss the Russia-Belarus energy dispute.
Ferrero-Waldner said she was trying to create a pragmatic
solution on the Poland-Russia meat dispute which had prompted
Poland to hold up agreement on starting EU negotiations with
Russia on a new Partnership and Cooperation Agreement.
Mandelson reported that these and other (unspecified)
problems were making Russia's WTO accession more difficult.

Africa


8. (C) Wieczorek-Zeul highlighted the importance placed on
Africa in Germany's EU and G-8 presidencies. On the G-8
side, Germany will focus on sustainable investment, HIV and
gender issues. Germany will also seek to fulfill past G-8
commitments to Africa. During its EU presidency, Germany
will focus on Economic Partnership Agreements and better
coordination of assistance from member states. Michel
stressed the importance of having a clear and well
coordinated development strategy and the continued need for
structural reform within Africa. (Note: Development Ministry
contacts report Germany's G-8/EU African development agenda
to crystallize after Wieczorek-Zeul and German President
Koehler return from a visit to the region next week. Foreign
Ministry officials have previously talked about building on
past efforts with Africa and establishing examples to which
other African states can work as they take steps necessary
for development. End note.)
TIMKEN JR