SWEDISH MFA ON EU DISCUSSION OF CONGO, SOUTH ASIA,

C O N F I D E N T I A L STOCKHOLM 000841

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/18/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV EU AF PK CG CF SW
SUBJECT: SWEDISH MFA ON EU DISCUSSION OF CONGO, SOUTH ASIA,
LISBON TREATY AND EU CLIMATE DEAL

REF: PARIS 2214

Classified By: CDA Robert Silverman for reasons 1.4 (B) & (D).


1. (C) On December 17, Poloffs met with Axel Wernhoff, Deputy
Head of the Division for European Affairs at the MFA.
Wernhoff said:

-- The EU will increasingly focus on Afghanistan in 2009 and
understands that a "regional approach" is needed to deal with
the Afghan-Pakistani border;

-- FM Bildt is open to Swedish forces participating in a
Congo mission as long as the mission could be expected to
"accomplish something";

-- On EU Presidency issues, Wernhoff expressed concern over
the perceived "lack of focus" of the Czechs, and Swedish
officials will prepare for "all Lisbon contingencies" during
Sweden's 2009 Presidency.

-- On climate change, Stockholm will work closely with Prague
to urge a greater focus on environment, not just energy.

Afghanistan/Pakistan
--------------


2. (C) Wernhoff told us to expect the EU to focus more on
Afghan issues in early 2009. This focus will include
Pakistan, as the EU is "increasingly aware" that a "regional
approach" is needed to address the Afghanistan conflict and
instability in the border regions. The Czech Republic and
Sweden are currently discussing under which presidency the
EU-Pakistan summit will occur; Wernhoff acknowledged debate
at the December GAERC over whether to publicly announce the
summit but gave no further details (reftel). Swedish FM
Bildt visited Pakistan December 15-16 (septel),signaling
increasing Swedish concern over South Asia.

Congo
--------------


3. (C) On the Congo, Wernhoff said FM Bildt is open to an
expanded EU peacekeeping mission as long as "it is clear that
the forces could reasonably hope to accomplish something."
He added that Bildt is currently trying to learn more about
the conflict there. Sweden understands that the EU as a
whole is reticent to be involved.

Climate Package Agreement
--------------


4. (C) Wernhoff said the agreement on the EU Climate
Agreement was "welcome" and the task now would be to
distribute agreed-upon targets among member states. Many
technical questions remain to be sorted out before the EU
Council meeting next March. Wernhoff said the Swedes "are
concerned" about the Czechs' seeming lack of focus on climate
change issues and their perceived emphasis on only energy,
not environment. In preparation for its presidency and
leading the EU through the COP 15 talks in Copenhagen in
December, Sweden will coordinate closely with the Czechs.
Swedish PM Reinfeldt and Danish PM Rasmussen plan to meet
regularly on this issue and to coordinate efforts for the EU
bilaterals with Brazil, China and South Africa.

Lisbon Treaty
--------------


5. (C) Because the EU Council on December 11 agreed on the
"road map" for the Treaty of Lisbon to enter into force
during the Swedish Presidency, and because they are concerned
the Czechs will not prepare for the Lisbon Treaty, the Swedes
plan to prepare contingency plans for "all aspects" of
Lisbon. Wernhoff stated he understands the Irish will hold a
referendum on the Lisbon Treaty in mid-October (at the latest
November 1),but said he personally thinks it will fail again
as it comes too soon after the first rejection. However,
Wernhoff said even with a second Irish veto, the EU will find
some way to proceed with the aspects of the Lisbon Treaty not
requiring passage of the treaty, e.g. certain institutional
changes. Either way, Lisbon-related issues will dominate
Sweden's EU Presidency, he said.
SILVERMAN