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