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 -------------- --- ¶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 -------------- ¶6. (C) Wilson commended the EU for its support on Kosovo BRUSSELS 00000388 002 OF 002 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 .