Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07DUSSELDORF16
2007-05-09 13:13:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Consulate Dusseldorf
Cable title:  

REQUEST FOR A NEW CONSULAR AGENCY -- COLOGNE

Tags:  CMGT CASC AFIN GM 
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VZCZCXRO9962
RR RUEHAG RUEHLZ
DE RUEHDF #0016/01 1291313
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 091313Z MAY 07
FM AMCONSUL DUSSELDORF
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0076
INFO RUCNFRG/FRG COLLECTIVE
RUEHDF/AMCONSUL DUSSELDORF 0089
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DUSSELDORF 000016 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR CA/EX AND EUR/EX

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CMGT CASC AFIN GM
SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR A NEW CONSULAR AGENCY -- COLOGNE

REF: DUESSELDORF 13

DUSSELDORF 00000016 001.2 OF 002


UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DUSSELDORF 000016

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR CA/EX AND EUR/EX

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CMGT CASC AFIN GM
SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR A NEW CONSULAR AGENCY -- COLOGNE

REF: DUESSELDORF 13

DUSSELDORF 00000016 001.2 OF 002



1. Summary: Mission requests the establishment of a new
consular agency to be located in Cologne, North-Rhine Westphalia
(NRW),the most populous and politically and economically
important state in Germany. The American Citizen Services (ACS)
unit of the U.S. Consulate General Duesseldorf will cease
operations o/a June 29, 2007, leaving an estimated 20,000
resident American citizens and hundreds of thousands of visitors
without local support in case of emergency as well as for
routine services. After that date, services for American
citizens in NRW will be provided by Consulate General Frankfurt.
A Consular Agent in Cologne will assist Frankfurt to absorb the
subsequent increase in ACS workload and be responsible for tasks
such as prison visits, welfare/whereabouts checks, and services
related to Amcit deaths which are more economically, effectively
and efficiently handled locally. The agency would be located in
office space provided rent-free in the same building as the
successor institution to the America House in Cologne being
established by a coalition of German partners. This cable has
been coordinated with Embassy Berlin and Consulate General
Frankfurt. End Summary.

NRW Statistics
--------------


2. There are 10,688 American citizen residents registered with
authorities in NRW and estimates including dual nationals
approximate 20,000. There are some 640 American companies in
NRW. State authorities registered more than 170,000 Amcits
visitors to NRW in 2006 (using hotel and airport immigration
records),but the number is far larger, given the enormous
number of persons who arrive by other means and stay privately.
There are currently 25 direct, non-stop flights weekly to the
U.S. from Duesseldorf and Koeln/Bonn airports, and another major
airline plans to start daily direct service in early June. More
than a thousand Americans study as exchange students in NRW high
schools and universities each year. NRW hosts more than 100
leading international trade fairs with thousands of U.S.
exhibitors every year.


3. Statistics taken from the 2006 Consular Workload Statistics
System (CWSS) report for Duesseldorf are indicative of workload

that would be managed by a Cologne Consular Agency in close
coordination with Frankfurt. Duesseldorf received a total of
2,436 passport cases, including 1,294 first time and 190
emergency applications; processed 223 applications for Consular
Reports of Birth Abroad (CRBA) with 200 issued; and provided
1,142 notarial services. There were 54 death cases involving
Amcits and another 10 involving shipment of remains to the U.S.
of non-citizens; 34 welfare/whereabouts checks; and 11 cases
involving hospitalization of Amcits. ACS Duesseldorf provided
assistance in eight child custody cases, two other cases related
to the protection of minors, three cases involving Amcit victims
of spousal abuse and one victim hospitalized after a violent
attack. At present 11 Amcits are incarcerated in nine different
NRW jails.

Workload Implications of ACS D|sseldorf Closure
-------------- ---


4. As a result of CA/EX staffing review and consular
realignment, the ACS unit of Consulate General Duesseldorf will
cease operations o/a June 29, 2007. Frankfurt, the nearest
consulate general, will provide services previously handled by
Duesseldorf. Absorbing this significant increase in ACS
workload will require innovative steps by consular management.


5. A Consular Agent in Cologne who accepts passport
applications and provides notarial services will dramatically
reduce the number of persons who must visit Frankfurt ACS. We
have informed the national Amcham organization and NRW
leadership about the ACS closure. They have taken the news
stoically, but Amcham has asked about the possibility of what
they call a "very smart postbox" in NRW which would handle the
many travel and document-related services their members now
receive from Duesseldorf. Amcham would very much welcome a
consular agent, some of whose work would be of this nature.


6. A consular agent based in NRW would also significantly
increase the efficiency of Special Consular Services (SCS). A
local agent is best placed to develop NRW contacts and to take
best advantage of local social support networks to assist Amcits
in need. Proximity is a great advantage when dealing with child
custody, death, abuse and other similar sensitive SCS casework.
Travel implications are also significant. For example, the
drive to the Osnabrueck jail (where an Amcit is incarcerated)
from Cologne requires about six hours round-trip; a visit from
Frankfurt would require a ten hour drive, probably necessitating
an overnight stay. A cost comparison of train tickets to/from
Osnabrueck yields a difference of over $110/trip.


DUSSELDORF 00000016 002.2 OF 002





Proposal for a Cologne Consular Agency
--------------


7. Before the end of FY2007, America House Cologne (AHK) will
cease to be run by the USG and will be transferred to a
coalition of German partners who, under the leadership of
Cologne Mayor Fritz Schramma, will take over a legacy
institution. Mayor Schramma has offered rent-free office space
for a consular agency in the AHK successor institution; a
well-known location already associated with America and the USG.
See reftel for a more complete description of planned
restructuring of Consulate General Duesseldorf.


8. The quantity of services and number of complex emergency
cases anticipated (based on Duesseldorf's 2006 CWSS) support a
request for a 36 hour-a-week, 90% agent. The cost in salary and
benefits of such an agent is approximately one third the cost of
a senior LES. Establishing a Cologne Consular Agency would
lessen the pressure on Frankfurt which faces major increases in
workload and costs as a result of the closure of the Duesseldorf
ACS unit and at the same time demonstrate continued USG
commitment to American citizens in NRW. The Cologne Consular
Agency would be supervised by Frankfurt.


9. Establishment of a Cologne Consular Agency, planned in
coordination with the closure of the Duesseldorf ACS unit,
transfer of PD staff from AHK, and establishment of an AHK
legacy institution, will result in significant savings. As
noted above, office space has been offered at no cost to the
USG. The idea has strong support from a major partner of ours,
Cologne Mayor Schramma. Expenditures for security upgrades,
space renovations, furniture, installation of telephone lines,
and other make ready costs will be minimal. Equipment in the
consular agent toolkit, such as computer and printer, may be
transferred from excess CA equipment resulting from the closure
of ACS Duesseldorf.


10. Estimated start-up costs are:

Desktop copier USD 350
Answering machine 50
Shredder 400
Phone/internet line transfer 80
Cellular phone 60

Total CA start-up cost: USD 940

FSI training USD 5,000
Office supplies 250

Total post/program start-up cost: USD 5,250


11. Estimated recurring costs (calculated annually) are:

Salary (FZ-90 step 1) USD 32,278
FICA (7.65%) 2,469
Health insurance (7.75%) 2,500
Cellular phone service 720
Phone/internet service 900

Total annual CA (through MRV funding request) cost: USD 38,867

Travel (incl. supervisory) USD 2,500
Office supplies 750

Total annual post/program cost: USD 3,250

Comment
--------------


12. The establishment of a new consular agency in Cologne is an
efficient, cost effective strategy for Frankfurt to manage the
increased workload associated with the closure of the ACS unit
in Duesseldorf. It also reflects the importance of a consular
presence in Germany's most populous state. Statistics
demonstrate that the many American citizen residents and
visitors requiring ACS assistance in NRW justify a consular
agency in Cologne. An agent located within the state can more
efficiently handle the large volume of sensitive and complex SCS
casework in NRW. In addition, the cost of maintaining a
consular agent in Cologne would be less than the cost of an
additional LES in Frankfurt to absorb added ACS workload. The
unique opportunity to locate an agent in the AHK legacy
institution, at significant savings to the USG, makes the
proposal to establish a consular agency in Cologne all the more
attractive.
BOYSE