NSC'S WILSON AND EU DISCUSS U.S.-EU SUMMIT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 000388

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/14/2018
TAGS: PREL CVIS EUN
SUBJECT: NSC'S WILSON AND EU DISCUSS U.S.-EU SUMMIT

Classified By: Pol Minister Counselor Laurence Wohlers for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: In a series of meetings with EU officials
March 5 and 6, Damon Wilson, NSC Senior Director for European
Affairs, said the upcoming U.S.-EU Summit should focus on
global issues where the transatlantic partnership has led to
tangible results. Kosovo independence, development and
disease-reduction programs in Africa, and expanded visa-free
travel to the U.S. for EU members are among the specific
issues that should be highlighted, he said. Slovenian
officials said the Summit also provides an opportunity to
note progress on climate change andon economic cooperation
through the Transatlantic Economic Council (TEC). Both EU
officials and Wilson suggested minimizing the time spent
preparing summit documents and maximizing public and press
events through the effective use of leaders' time. End
Summary.


2. (C) Wilson, in Brussels for the NATO ministerial, met
separately with the Council Secretariat, Commission, and EU
Presidency to continue planning for the U.S.-EU Summit in
Ljubljana June 10. Wilson outlined three broad objectives
for President Bush: emphasizing the continued importance of
creating and maintaining a Europe "whole and free;"
highlighting not just a good transatlantic relationship but
tangible outcomes around the world that result from that
close partnership; and showcasing the ways the U.S. and EU
break down barriers between communities through initiatives
like the TEC, regulatory reform, Doha trade talks, and the
visa waiver program (VWP).


Making VWP into the good news story it should be
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3. (C) Wilson encouraged the EU to work with the U.S. to
ensure that VWP is a "good news story" with progress in at
least seven countries by the Summit. While acknowledging the
Commission's displeasure that the U.S. has negotiated
bilaterally with EU member states, Wilson said the EU and its
member states should work out issues of competency among
themselves. Because President Bush has made VWP
implementation a priority at the repeated request of leaders
from new EU members, Washington is now surprised by the
backlash emanating from the Commission over the process, he
said. "We're not looking for this to be an area of
confrontation," he said. Marek Grela, Director for
transatlantic relations at the Council Secretariat, said
competency for visa negotiations lies squarely with the
European Commission. The EU objects in particular to the new
security and data-sharing clauses in the memoranda of
understanding with prospective VWP candidates, he said. "You
are adding a new quasi-legal framework with the MOU and
that's the problem," Grela said.

Finding Macedonia a name that all can live with
-------------- --


4. (C) EU officials could help the U.S. work with Macedonia
and Greece to find a mutually acceptable solution to the
Macedonian name issue, Wilson said. If unresolved, Greece
will likely veto Macedonian membership for NATO at the NATO
Summit in early April, a move that could jeopardize U.S. and
EU goals throughout the Western Balkans, he said. Wilson
said the EU did not seem as seized with the issue as the
U.S., and that he did not see any EU countries working
forcefully with Greece to find a solution.

Encouraging the EU to find alternatives to Russian energy
-------------- --------------


5. (C) Wilson also encouraged the EU to continue working on
developing alternatives to Russia as a supplier of oil and
gas, with at least one good alternative in progress by the
Summit. He suggested the EU work aggressively with Turkey on
energy security and said, "The U.S. doesn't want to have to
care more about the EU's energy security than the EU does."
He said the EU's reliance on Russia could have long-term
security implications for the U.S. as well. Commission
officials underscored their objective to finalize a common
European energy security policy prior to the U.S.-EU summit.
On climate change, Fernando Andresen-Guimares, a member of
Commission President Barroso's cabinet, said Barroso is
prepared to recognize progress by the Bush administration.
He also noted that climate change is an issue that resonates
well with average citizens.

More to be done on Kosovo
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6. (C) Wilson commended the EU for its support on Kosovo

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independence in the face of some member state opposition.
Both he and EU officials noted that the pace of recognition
outside of Europe has been slower than desired. Grela
predicted that Serbia would be less antagonistic toward
Kosovo independence with time. Steven Everts, of High
Representative Solana's private office, said the EU was
relieved that ethnic violence was less pronounced than many
expected. Wilson and Everts agreed on a donors conference as
a way forward for Kosovo in the short term and an investors
conference for the region in the long term. Everts said the
EU's offer to Serbia of closer cooperation remains on the
table and can perhaps be revisited in a few months when
tensions ease. Grela suggested large-scale scholarship
programs for young people in Serbia as a way to build
capacity and good will.


7. (C) Andrej Rahten, chief foreign policy advisor to the
Slovenian PM, suggested discussing regional issues over lunch
at the Summit, with the EU potentially leading a discussion
of the Western Balkans and the U.S. leading on the Middle
East. In terms of documents, he suggested a one-page summit
statement accompanied by a separate progress report. He also
suggested that the TEC prepare a report in non-economic
"plain English."


8. (U) Damon Wilson has cleared this report.
MURRAY
.