Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BRUSSELS3514
2007-12-17 14:28:00
UNCLASSIFIED
USEU Brussels
Cable title:  

SPANISH FORMER PM TO CHAIR PANEL ON EU'S LONG-TERM

Tags:  PREL EUN 
pdf how-to read a cable
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DE RUEHBS #3514 3511428
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 171428Z DEC 07
FM USEU BRUSSELS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS BRUSSELS 003514 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/ERA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL EUN
SUBJECT: SPANISH FORMER PM TO CHAIR PANEL ON EU'S LONG-TERM
CHALLENGES

UNCLAS BRUSSELS 003514

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/ERA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL EUN
SUBJECT: SPANISH FORMER PM TO CHAIR PANEL ON EU'S LONG-TERM
CHALLENGES


1. SUMMARY. EU leaders on December 14 set up an independent panel
headed by former Spanish PM Felipe Gonzalez to reflect on long-term
challenges facing the EU until 2020-2030. Originally the brainchild
of French President Sarkozy who wanted the EU to discuss its final
borders (read: Turkey),the panel will mainly study slightly less
controversial issues such as Europe's economy and social model,
migration, energy, and climate change. Nevertheless, Sarkozy's wish
was met by an oblique formula in the mandate for the panel to study
"how the stability and prosperity of both the Union and the wider
region might best be served.". The 12-member panel, to be
vice-chaired by a former Latvian President and the Chair of Nokia,
will start working in September 2008 (during the French Presidency)
and report in June 2010, a timetable designed to avoid any
interference with the Lisbon Treaty ratification process. END
SUMMARY.


2. EU leaders in their December 14 European Council meeting agreed
to set up an independent "Reflection Group" to be chaired by former
Spanish PM Felipe Gonzalez "to help the Union anticipate and meet
challenges more effectively" over the long-term (horizon 2020-2030).
Gonzales will be assisted by former President of Latvia Vaira
Vike-Freiberga and by Jorma Ollila, a chief executive of Finnish
mobile phone manufacturer Nokia. Gonzalez appeared to emerge as a
compromise candidate after France and the Baltics pushed
Vike-Freiberga, while Finland lobbied for Ollila, also backed by the
UK. The group will include "no more than nine (other) members"
(expected to be drawn from various backgrounds -- academia,
business, trade unions, etc.),who will be "selected from across the
Union on the basis of merit." Gonzalez and his two vice-chairs will
submit a list of names to be considered by the European Council
during the French Presidency. To avoid any interference with the
Lisbon Treaty ratification process, the leaders tasked the group to
start working in September 2008 and to report its conclusions in
June 2010.


3. The idea of such a panel - first called a group of "Wise Men," a
term implying there would be no female members in it - originally
came from French President Sarkozy, who wanted to engage the EU in a
discussion of its final borders. Pro-enlargement countries (UK,
Czech Republic and the Nordics) and the Commission were suspicious
of a plan perceived as a way to stop the enlargement process and of
shifting EU policy against Turkish membership. The current
Portuguese Presidency then proposed to give the panel a
broadly-worded mandate that would avoid the most sensitive issues,
including the reopening of the EU institutional debate, the reform
of existing EU policies (such as the common agricultural policy),
the 2008-2009 reform of EU finances as well as specific reference to
the EU's future geographical borders.


4. As crafted by the EU PermReps and endorsed by the FMs (December
10) and the European Council, the mandate will be to identify "the
key issues and developments that the EU is likely to face" and to
"analyze how these might be addressed." Among these subjects, the
text quotes: "the reinforcement and modernization of the "European
model of economic success and social responsibility," the rule of
law, sustainable development, global security, migration, energy,
climate protection, and the fight against international crime and
terrorism. The group will also "need to take account of likely
developments within and outside Europe and examine in particular how
the stability and prosperity of both the Union and of the wider
region might best be served in the longer term." French officials
highlighted the formula as involving an implicit mandate to discuss
Turkey and the "borders of Europe." Sarkozy told his final press
conference the group would reflect on "the contents of the European
dream," asking: "Is the vision still the same as the vision of an
integrated Europe that we had after WWII?" Sarkozy said the group
"should not necessarily decide but could very well propose options."



5. COMMENT. The establishment of the panel and the wording of its
mandate owe much to the EU's collective need to enlist French
support for the continuation of the accession negotiations with
Turkey (two new chapters will be opened on December 19). Danish PM
Anders Fogh Rasmussen made it clear the group was "something that we
reluctantly agreed because it is important for one big Member
State."
END COMMENT.

MURRAY