NETHERLANDS/ENERGY: INPUT FOR REQUIRED REPORTS TO

UNCLAS THE HAGUE 000127 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/WE (TSMITH),EEB/ESC/IEC (GGRIFFIN) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ENRG SENV APER ABUD NL SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/ENERGY: INPUT FOR REQUIRED REPORTS TO CONGRESS REF: STATE 10743 THIS MESSAGE IS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. PLEASE HANDLE ACCORDINGLY. ¶1. (SBU) In response to reftel request, Mission is pleased to provide the following information: -- The Economic Section, with three full-time staff members, has the lead within the Mission on energy policy matters. -- Time spent on energy and energy-related issues is distributed as follows: 1 FS-02 Economic Section Chief, 15 percent; 1 FP-04 Economic Officer, 35 percent; 1 FSN 10-1 Economic Specialist, 40 percent, with the following duties: -- The Economic Section Chief has the lead in seeking Dutch support for U.S.-led efforts to combat climate change, including raising awareness within the Dutch government and public and educating them on USG efforts to combat climate change through public speaking opportunities and the organization of meetings/roundtables with guest speakers and high-level visitors. The Economic Section Chief, working together with the Foreign Commercial Service, also facilitates contacts between Dutch experts and businesses and U.S. counterparts active in the area of climate change. -- The Economic Officer has the lead in sharing information and raising awareness about U.S. energy priorities and policy within the Dutch government and public. The officer tracks Dutch and EU policy regarding energy and energy-related aspects of climate change and the Dutch-specific energy situation and issues such as the GONL's efforts to become a gas hub for Europe, its external energy relations, and its energy market liberalization efforts. The Economic Officer also serves as a liaison with Dutch energy companies and as a POC for official energy delegations and Dutch participation in priority energy dialogues (e.g., the Washington International Renewable Energy Conference and the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership). -- The FSN Economic Specialist tracks press coverage and performs research on Dutch and EU energy and climate change policy, the Dutch energy situation and related legislation, Dutch efforts to become a gas hub, external energy relations, and energy market liberalization. The FSN supports liaison efforts with Dutch civil society regarding energy and assists with energy-related delegations. -- The Ambassador, Deputy Chief of Mission, and Consul General in Amsterdam regularly address Dutch audiences and visiting official and private American delegations on energy, climate change and related topics. The Mission has also published op-eds on U.S. climate change positions under the Ambassador's signature. -- Staff in the Economic Section do not have any special energy-related qualifications. -- In FY 2007, the Economic Section spent 10 percent (USD 300) of its representational funds on energy matters. ¶2. (U) Mission's POC for this activity is Economic Officer Jay Heung, 31.70.310.2339, email: heungj2@state.gov. Arnall