EU COUNCIL CONCLUSIONS - LISBON STRATEGY, CLIMATE AND

UNCLAS LJUBLJANA 000142 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/NCE VIENNA FOR CQUINLIVAN TREASURY FOR VIMAL ATUKORALA SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON EINV ETRD PREL PGOV SENV ENRG EUN SI SUBJECT: EU COUNCIL CONCLUSIONS - LISBON STRATEGY, CLIMATE AND FINANCIAL STABILITY REF: A. BRUSSELS 392 Summary -------------- ¶1. (U) The March 13-14 European Council resulted in the launch of the second cycle of the renewed Lisbon Strategy for Growth and Jobs, ratification of the EU's climate and energy package, and proposals to create greater stability in the financial markets. Slovenian Prime Minister and EU Council President Janez Jansa and EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso both emphasized at a press conference following the Summit that the goals of economic growth, social improvements, and fighting climate change are all interconnected. The majority of the discussions during the summit focused on climate and energy objectives. Jansa and Barroso were optimistic that the climate and energy package goals were ambitious but achievable. ¶2. (U) In the opening press conference of the summit on March 13, Barroso emphasized that the EU "passed the test of reality," showed that the first cycle of the Lisbon Strategy worked, "kept the line" and moved forward on its commitments for economic growth and energy policies. In his closing statement on March 14, when asked about Slovenia's handling of the summit, Barroso stated that success rests on outcomes. On that basis, he said Slovenia ran a "successful and professional presidency," bringing about "real results" on tough subjects like establishing timelines and principles for the climate and energy package, and establishing a unified approach to stabilizing financial markets. The Council's most important political decision during the traditionally economic Spring summit was to approve the principle of a "Union for the Mediterranean." (Ref A) End Summary. The Lisbon Strategy - Next Steps -------------- ¶3. (U) At the opening press conference on March 13, Jansa described the 2005-2008 cycle of the renewed Lisbon strategy as a success, resulting in a halving of public deficits and the creation of 6.5 million jobs across the EU. He went on to say that the 2008-2010 cycle will focus on implementation. The Council reconfirmed the four priority areas from the first cycle but asked the EU for synergies among them to be exploited. Jansa listed the Lisbon Strategy priorities areas as: - investing in knowledge and innovation. Future growth for the EU requires innovation and investment in research and development. - unlocking business potential, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The EU needs to enact better regulations to reduce bureaucratic burdens on SMEs and improve the competitiveness of SMEs. - investing in people and modernizing labor markets. The EU needs to strengthen the knowledge triangle of "research-innovation-education" in order to foster a "knowledge-based economy." It needs to decrease student drop-out rates and facilitate higher levels of education for its citizens. In realizing these goals, Jansa emphasized: - the role of local and regional involvement in delivering growth and jobs; - the need for economic, social and territorial cohesion in Lisbon Strategy objectives; - the importance of macro-economic stability in addressing longer-term challenges ahead; and - the importance of the social dimension and the need to integrate economic, employment and social policies. Finally, Jansa invited the European Commission, the Council, and National Lisbon coordinators to start reflecting on post-2010 objectives in order to maintain and extend the success of the Lisbon Strategy. Climate and Energy Policy in Place by 2008 -------------- ¶4. (U) Jansa stressed that climate and energy policy development was a necessary and integral component of the Lisbon Strategy and should be addressed in conjunction with the implementation of the Lisbon strategy. Jansa also emphasized the importance for the EU to maintain its international leadership on climate change and energy issues in a safe and sustainable way. Jansa and Barroso highlighted the need to "deliver" on the targets set by the EU in 2007. The EU has committed to political agreement on principles by the end of 2008 and to propose an "ambitious, global and comprehensive" post-2012 agreement on climate change at the UN meeting on climate change in Copenhagen in 2009. Barroso stated that an international agreement was the best solution for Europe. However, he explained, even without an international agreement the EU would move forward with internal goals. Economic Concerns Addressed -------------- ¶5. (U) Jansa told the media that member states held intense discussions on the economic impact of the climate and energy package goals. All participants agreed that leadership in fighting climate change can not come at the expense of economic competitiveness. Jansa explained that climate change offers both economic challenges and opportunities for the EU. He went on to say that new technologies could spur economic growth in Europe. Jansa and Barroso acknowledged the risk of carbon leakage and assured member states that measures would be taken to keep industries in Europe. They explained that any binding directives would include language safeguarding the economic competitiveness of energy-intensive companies, in case an international agreement on climate change goals is not reached. Energy Security is a Priority -------------- ¶6. Jansa highlighted the need for enhanced energy security within the EU and more cooperation between the EU and third countries. He stressed that the EU and its member states must "speak with one voice" on energy issues with third parties. Jansa invited the Council to conduct a comprehensive review of progress in promoting energy security in light of the Strategic Energy Review to take place in November 2008. Based on the joint report from High Representative Javier Solana and the Council on the impact of climate change on international security, the Council was invited to provide recommendations by December 2008, at the latest, on how to intensify cooperation with third countries and regions regarding the impact of climate change and international security. Strategy for Stability of Financial Markets Needed -------------- -------------- ¶7. (U) Jansa said that the EU needs to consider four areas regarding financial markets: transparency, standards, prudential framework, and financial management. He explained that the Council would conduct a major review of progress made at the informal ECOFIN meeting taking place in Ljubljana April 4-5 and would revisit the issues, as needed, in Autumn 2008. Jansa presented some of the Council's key conclusions on financial market stability: - Prompt and full disclosure of risk by banks and financial institutions is essential. - In responding to turmoil, the Council agreed that the primary responsibility is with the private sector but that authorities in the EU stand ready to take regulatory and supervisory action where and when necessary. - The Council highlighted the need for further strengthening of the financial stability framework and asked ECOFIN to implement stronger financial supervision and management of cross-border financial crisis situations. - The EU should enhance the role of the IMF in oversight of macro-financial stability. Also, the EU should work in close cooperation with its international partners to combat instability in the financial markets. - The Council believes that sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) have played a useful role as capital and liquid providers thus far, but the Council raised concerns that the new players emerging have limited transparency -- the goals and objectives of these SWFs and their non-commercial practices are unclear. The Council called for an international voluntary code of conduct for SWFs and defining principles for recipient countries. Comment -------------- ¶8. (SBU) The tone of the summit press conferences was upbeat, and in all the issues discussed, there was a "call to action." Jansa and Barroso focused on past successes and the need to implement and "deliver" on political commitments. The Council stressed many times that there should be an internationally-agreed commitment to fighting climate change and that the EU would take the lead and establish internal targets which it would propose for global consideration. The economic impact of climate change targets was the most hotly debated, with Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel stressing the need to implement targets in a way that avoids harming energy-intensive industries, such as Germany's auto-making industry. The concern over carbon leakage loomed large, and Barroso and Jansa were both adamant that the EU would not work against its own economic interests in addressing climate change. ¶9. USEU cleared on this cable. COLEMAN