C O N F I D E N T I A L LISBON 002305

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE PLEASE PASS USTR PAUL BURKHEAD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/05/2017
TAGS: PGOV PO PREL EUN
SUBJECT: LISBON'S PLANS TO SHEPHERD PASSAGE OF EU REFORM
TREATY


Classified By: POL-ECON, LCLIFTON, based on 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (SBU) During August 28 trade discussions with A/USTR Shaun
Donnelly, the Prime Minister's Economic Advisor Vitor Escaria
and MFA Deputy Director-General for European Affairs Rui
Macieira provided insight into Lisbon's plans to obtain
European Council approval of the EU Reform Treaty. Escaria
explained that Lisbon's goal was to solidify de facto
approval of the Reform Treaty text by EU Heads of State and
Government at their informal meeting Lisbon on October 18-19.
Macieira emphasized, however, that formal legal approval
would need to await the European Council's December 13-14
meeting in Brussels.


2. (C) Macieira stated that Portugal planned to stick to the
very specific mandate that the Council of Ministers gave
Lisbon in June to shepherd through the existing text during
its EU Presidency. Both he and Macieira did not foresee any
major attempts to re-open portions of the text, although
Escaria acknowledged that the likelihood of a snap election
in Poland could impact the formal signing of the deal.


3. (C) Escaria opined that the EU could not afford to spend
more time on the Reform Treaty, adding that he hoped EU
member states would stop their "domestic focus" and start
looking "outward." Macieira described the lack of resolution
on the Treaty as a cloud that is always present in EU
meetings. He acknowledged that the Treaty would affect
member-states in different ways, creating "winners and
losers." Even so, he voiced support for the timely passage of
the text, suggesting that the issue had been with the EU "for
far too long."

Hoffman