SECURITY AND DEFENSE AGENDA HOSTS CONFERENCE ON

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 003249 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/ERA, EUR/RPM, AND S/CT E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PTER EUN SUBJECT: SECURITY AND DEFENSE AGENDA HOSTS CONFERENCE ON "DEFINING A EUROPEAN SECURITY STRATEGY" ¶1. (U) Summary. Discussion at a high-level conference on European security, October 18 in Brussels, focused on the need for greater action to build "European level" capabilities to confront complex, cross-border security threats. Participants stressed the need to integrate internal and external security strategies in order to confront terrorism and other complex non-traditional threats from both inside and outside the European Union. In a trend toward further European integration that the new Reform Treaty will intensify, a French government speaker announced that France intends to introduce a new European Security Strategy during its 2008 presidency. JHA Commissioner Frattini highlighted a recurring theme in emphasizing the need for a coherent, European approach that brings together disparate responses to the threats of terrorism, organized crime, weapons of mass destruction, regional conflicts, failed states, and illegal migration. Experts also noted that the new Reform Treaty will break down many barriers to integrating internal and external security strategies and provide a stronger political process for developing a unified, coherent approach. Although the U.S. was cited as an indispensable partner in European efforts to address global security threats, all signs point towards more pressure for EU-based integration of Europe's security architecture as the Reform Treaty is implemented. End summary -------------- Keynote Address -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Over three hundred people attended a Brussels conference on "Defining a European Security Strategy," October 18. The annual conference was hosted by the Security and Defense Agenda, a prominent Brussels-based forum for examination of NATO-EU, and defense industry issues. Representatives of many major U.S. companies attended the seminar. European Commissioner for Justice, Freedom, and Security, Franco Frattini delivered the keynote address. Frattini identified terrorism, weapons of mass destruction, regional conflicts, state failure, and organized crime as the key threats facing the citizens of the EU. Frattini pressed hard on the need to create a coherent approach to these multi-faceted threats, while preserving basic rights. Commissioner Frattini called for a broader security strategy that recognizes the interdependence between internal and external responses. ¶3. (SBU) The Commissioner argued that the U.S. and the EU have the same goals, and called for close cooperation on these threats. The Commissioner cited Afghanistan and the Balkans as key theaters where U.S. - EU cooperation was critical in tackling organized crime and instability before they became internal security threats to our citizens. Frattini announced that he would adopt an "ambitious" counter-terrorism package in November that will cover actions to be taken "in solidarity" at the European level. He called for the EU's Member States to create new capabilities that could be employed at the European level. U.S. Ambassador to the EU C. Boyden Gray, speaking as a member of the expert panel, pointed out that without the necessary resources and political will, no security strategy will be able to deliver results. -------------- New Capabilities for Non-Traditional Threats -------------- ¶4. (SBU) The recurring themes throughout the conference were the need to look across the range of security threats -- including terrorism, illegal migration, energy dependence, critical infrastructure, failed states, climate change, and organized crime, and to take effective action at the "European level." Commissioner Frattini cited the European Arrest Warrant, Europol, Eurojust, and Frontex, as examples of evolving European responses to cross-border problems of terrorism, uncontrolled migration, and organized crime. The establishment of these European-level institutions is a reflection of the fact that while few of the identified threats are military in nature, there is a need to develop the new combination of cross-border capabilities necessary to respond to these non-traditional threats. The need to act outside the borders of the EU in order to counter or forestall internal threats was another major theme. -------------- New Security Strategy in 2008 BRUSSELS 00003249 002 OF 002 -------------- ¶5. (SBU) French Ambassador to the Political and Security Committee (PSC) Christine Roger noted that the current European Security Strategy was adopted in 2003. This strategy was designed to respond to external threats, but it also called for greater integration between internal and external security strategies to address counter-terrorism and organized crime. She pointed to the significant progress made within the EU since ESDP's inception in 1998, citing the creation of the Political and Security Committee, the Military Committee, the Military Staff, the Situation Center, and the European Defense Agency. She noted that the EU has deployed 17 missions on three continents, although many deficiencies remain. These shortfalls in communications, intelligence, and transportation are being addressed in order to increase the mobility of forces. France will present a national White Paper on Defense in March 2008, and plans to introduce a new EU security strategy during its Presidency in the second half of 2008. Roger said that internal papers have been written on the need to integrate the three pillars of EU competencies so that the Commission's power to regulate and act in internal justice and home affairs can reinforce the Member States' efforts in external security. The newly-negotiated Reform Treaty "Treaty of Lisbon") will create a single figure who will have the authority to bring together these roles in a coherent strategy. ¶6. (SBU) Comment: While the conference produced more questions than answers, the discussion clearly reflected calls for a greater role for Brussels in establishing and integrating external and internal security policy across Europe. Nearly every speaker, whether representing industry, a national government, or independent think tank, called for greater action at "the European level" in order to build new capabilities to confront these complex cross-border threats. Legislation, research and development, rationalization of industry and markets, strategic policy development, and cooperation with major partners will increasingly be driven from Brussels. This trend will intensify as the new reform treaty is put into effect, giving High Representative Solana, or his successor, greater influence and resources with which to identify and pursue European Union policy objectives. End Comment. GRAY .