EP: CHARGE PRESENTS THE US PERSPECTIVE TO THE DELEGATION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 001371 SIPDIS SENSITIVE FOR EUR/ERA AND EUR/PRM E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON EPET EUN SUBJECT: EP: CHARGE PRESENTS THE US PERSPECTIVE TO THE DELEGATION FOR RELATIONS WITH THE U.S. REF: BRUSSELS 1302 AND 1292 BRUSSELS 00001371 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (U) SUMMARY. A large crowd of Members of Parliament (MEPs) and staffers attended the Charge's presentation on U.S.-EU relations during the September 30th meeting of the European Parliament's Delegation for Relations with the U.S. This was the delegation's first meeting of the new session of parliament. The Charge provided a brief overview of U.S. transatlantic priorities and answered questions from MEPs on climate change and the road to Copenhagen, the scope of the upcoming Transatlantic Economic Council (TEC),the Doha Trade Round, missile defense, and visa waiver. The delegation's chairman concluded the session by asking the members to consider one resolution to cover both the TEC and the U.S.-EU Summit. END SUMMARY. CLIMATE CHANGE STILL KING -------------- ¶2. (U) The Charge, in his opening remarks, stated that cooperation with Europe on climate change is essential, and noted that the administration is committed to a successful outcome at the UN climate negotiations in Copenhagen. He touted the success of the Major Economies Forum, which took place in Washington two weeks before, as an important step towards success in Copenhagen. Domestically, he highlighted the steps taken in Congress, including the passage of the Waxman-Markey climate legislation in the House in June and the release of a draft bill by Senators Boxer and Kerry that same day. He noted the bill's provisions are consistent with keeping the increase in global temperature to two degrees Celsius or less. ¶3. (SBU) As has become commonplace in Brussels, there was a strong response from MEPs about the U.S. climate position, commitment, and efforts. MEP Danuta Maria Hubner (EPP, Poland) was particularly aggressive, stating that as the EU prepares for Copenhagen, many of her colleagues seriously doubt that the United States will take a proactive role. Specifically, she asked if climate change will get enough attention and asked what the U.S. target and financial offer will be in Copenhagen, and what the United States expects to get from Copenhagen. MEP Corien Worthmann-Kool (EPP, Netherlands) followed by expressing pessimism about the U.S. in light of her recent trip to Washington as part of her party's delegation. She said she had the sense that there is a major public campaign underway against climate legislation in the U.S., and that this would make the Senate reluctant to pass a bill. ¶4. (U) The Charge thanked MEP Worthmann-Kool for going to Washington, noting it is important to have such legislative exchanges. He said that there had been similar doubts that the Waxman-Markey legislation would succeed in the House, but it had passed in record time and with the buy-in of a broad range of stakeholders. Waxman-Markey, he explained, covers 85% of the U.S. economy, a far-reaching goal. Additionally, the United States has taken unilateral action by devoting $80 billion of the President's stimulus package to clean energy investments. He acknowledged that the Senate will need to approve the spending, but many senators, including Boxer and Kerry, as well as the administration, remain committed. He added that the United States and the EU can not undertake this alone; China and India need to take part. ENERGY SECURITY AND THE TEC -------------- ¶5. (U) The Charge also highlighted the importance of European energy security for transatlantic relations. Europe has faced several challenges involving Russia, including transit of gas and development of new pipelines. He explained that the U.S. is interested in Europe's energy security because energy markets are connected. Countries can not be held hostage, with their people left in the cold, because of energy dependence on a single source. When asked by Delegation Chairman Elmar Brok (EPP, Germany) if the proposed U.S.-EU Energy Council (UEEC) is a competing project to the TEC, the Charge said the two bodies are complementary. Energy issues, he continued, are specific to the region, and energy policy is sufficiently distinct from the many other topics assigned to the TEC to warrant its own dialogue. The UEEC is another forum that can meet more often that the bi-annual TEC and is exclusively dedicated to this complicated topic. ¶6. (SBU) The Charge emphasized that the TEC is an important instrument to make U.S. and EU economies more efficient. When asked about the agenda for the TEC meeting planned for October 27, he explained that the specifics are still being discussed, but that the TEC will likely address regulatory harmonization; dialogue with third parties, notably intellectual property rights and China; environmental issues; and technological issues, such as in the BRUSSELS 00001371 002.6 OF 002 health field. When asked if data privacy and protection will be included in the TEC, the CDA explained that since the issue falls under both Pillars 1 and 3, its mixed nature calls for handling through the High Level Contact Group. (Note: Several MEPs were quick to point out that the Pillar structure will no longer exist after the adoption of the Lisbon Treaty. End note.) He added that we are working toward a binding international agreement on data privacy, particularly important because of the differences between our two systems. The U.S. law in force dates back to 1974, and while it does not contain a right of redress, we do have that ability through the Freedom of Information Act and other means. He concluded by reiterating that we want to continue to consult with the EU. DOHA TRADE ROUND -------------- ¶7. (U) The Charge emphasized that the United States is committed to a successful completion of an agreement in the Doha Trade Round. However, it must be fair and enhance global trade, and not simply be an agreement for the sake of an agreement. When Jacqueline Foster (ECR, United Kingdom) asked for open competition assurances from the administration, the Charge said that the United States is not looking for protectionism. He reminded the MEPs that Congress needs to approve any agreement, and that the administration can not support something that Congress will not. MISSILE DEFENSE AND VISA WAIVER -------------- ¶8. (U) MEP Corina Cretu (S&D, Romania) asked for a few minutes to discuss the non-TEC related topics of visa waiver and missile defense. She wanted guarantees that the administration would not change the provisions for entering the visa waiver program. The Charge referred to the Congressional mandates on the topic, but stressed that the administration wants all EU member states to be part of the program once they meet these guidelines. Cretu explained to the Charge that many Eastern Europeans from relatively newly independent countries, such as Romania, have not forgotten Russian aggression and still have reasons to fear the country. She said that many are worried that the postponement of missile defense in Europe signals that the U.S. and Russia are "working behind our backs." The Charge thanked her for the opportunity to clarify that the U.S. policy has been evolving for years. The Obama administration stressed that missile defense has always been designed to protect Europe from an Iranian threat. We now realize that the real threat from Iran stems from short range missiles, which led to the modification of a phased approach that would be a system for all of Europe. THE DELEGATION PREPARES ITS NEXT STEPS -------------- ¶9. (SBU) Chairman Brok concluded the session by calling for all members of the delegation to expand their personal contacts with the Senate, House, and staffers in Washington. Responding to worries about the anticipated close timing of the TEC and U.S.-EU Summit, he suggested that at the next meeting the delegation approve a single resolution for both consultations. In preparation, each MEP was given a substantial booklet of background information, most of which was culled directly from the USEU's website. MURRAY