POLISH AVIATION OFFICIAL: "WE HAVE SURRENDERED OUR

C O N F I D E N T I A L WARSAW 001867 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EB/TRA, EUR/NCE EUR/NCE FOR BPUTNEY COMMERCE FOR 4232/ITA/MAC/EUR/OECA MROGERS, JBURGESS, JKIMBALL LONDON FOR FAA CBARKS USEU FOR KMORENSKI MONTREAL FOR USICAO LFAUX-GABLE E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/31/2012 TAGS: EAIR ECON ETRD PL SUBJECT: POLISH AVIATION OFFICIAL: "WE HAVE SURRENDERED OUR SOVEREIGNTY" REF: A. SECSTATE 77572 ¶B. SECSTATE 83246 Classified By: Econ Counselor Richard Rorvig, reasons 1.4 b and d ¶1. (U) Econoff met with Grzegorz Kruszynski, president of the Polish Civil Aviation Office on August 28 to discuss the upcoming International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) General Assembly. Kruszynski said he would be a delegate to the General Assembly, taking place in Montreal, Canada, September 18-28. ¶2. (C) Econoff sought Kruszynski's support on key U.S. positions to be discussed at the General Assembly, as outlined in reftels. Kruszynski indicated general support for U.S. positions, with the exception of U.S. opposition to the European Union's (EU) proposal to unilaterally impose its Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) on non-EU carriers flying to and from the EU, as discussed ref B. Kruszynski responded that he valued working closely with the U.S. on aviation matters, but said that Poland has "surrendered its sovereignty" to the EU, and indicated he would have to support the EU position on the Emmision Trading Scheme. ¶3. (C) Comment: It is clear that Kruszynski is obligated to support the EU position on the ETS, perhaps against his natural inclinations. If a rift develops in the EU delegation on ETS, however, Kruszynski and the other Polish delegates may be amenable to breaking with the EU and supporting the U.S. position. The Polish delegation can also be expected to generally support U.S. positions on other issues. End comment. ASHE