EU NOVEMBER GAERC - SELECTIONS FOR EU POSITIONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BRUSSELS 001569

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/19/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV EUN AF AL BO BK MK UP RS MOPS
MARR, PHUM, KDEM
SUBJECT: EU NOVEMBER GAERC - SELECTIONS FOR EU POSITIONS
AND POLICY ON AFGHANISTAN TOP "JUMBO" AGENDA

REF: A. USEU BRUSSELS 1560

B. USEU BRUSSELS 01555

BRUSSELS 00001569 001.3 OF 003


Classified By: USEU POL Acting M-C Mary T. Curtin for
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (U) Summary: EU Foreign Ministers met November 16-17 in
Brussels for their biannual "jumbo" or "super" General
Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) that included
a November 16 informal meeting with EU Defense Ministers and
a November 17 meeting with EU Development Ministers.
Highlights of the General Affairs session include the
Council's decision to refer Albania's EU membership
application to the European Commission for its opinion,
preparations for the upcoming December 11 European Council,
and development issues. Discussions in the External Affairs
Council centered around Afghanistan, Russia/Ukraine, and ESDP
issues, including extending the executive mandate of the EU's
military mission to Bosnia. There were in depth discussions
on Afghanistan both days, with a focus on expanding the EU's
civilian role and on creating a senior civilian
representative position improve coordination of civilian and
military efforts. The next regular meeting of the EU FMs is
scheduled to take place after the entry into force of the
Lisbon Treaty, which should lead to separate meetings of the
"General Affairs" and "Foreign Affairs" Council formations on
December 7-8. End Summary.

General Affairs
--------------


2. (U) Chaired by Swedish Minister for EU Affairs Malmstrom,
the General Affairs session of the GAERC focused on a range
of internal issues. The Council agreed to transfer the
Albanian application for EU membership to the Commission for
its opinion, the next step in Albania's quest for EU
membership. Malmstrom noted that the Swedish Presidency was
"very happy that the Council was able to take this step."
The formal statement noted the EU consensus "that the future
of the Western Balkans lies in the European Union," but
emphasized that progress was up to each applicant state.


3. (U) The Council also discussed the agenda for the
November 19 meeting of EU leaders to select new incumbents
for the top EU positions under the Lisbon Treaty. (Ref A)
Previewing the event, Malmstrom made it clear that the
Presidency's aim would be "to reach agreement on the three
names for the top-level jobs," i.e., the permanent President
of the European Council, the new High Representative of the
European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and
the Secretary-General of the EU Council. She reported that
the decision would take the form of a political agreement to
be formalized through a written procedure when the Lisbon
Treaty comes into force (Note: the legal basis for the
appointments to the new top-level jobs will only exist when
"Lisbon" has taken effect).


4. (U) As for preparations for the December 10-11 meeting of
the European Council, Malmstrom said the Council took note of
the annotated draft agenda circulated by the Swedish
Presidency and did not elaborate. According to the draft,
the Presidency expects the European Council to essentially
address institutional issues (Lisbon implementation and new
Commission); the EU economic, financial and employment
situation; JHA matters (adoption of the Stockholm program);
climate change (Copenhagen conference); and foreign policy
issues to be determined subject to developments. The Council
also held a policy debate on the EU "Lisbon strategy" for
growth and jobs post-2010. Malmstrom said the renewed
strategy for the period post-2010 (decisions are to be taken
by the European Council in the spring 2010) would be the
"first test of a mature political Union" equipped "with a new
treaty."


5. (U) Ministers also discussed the EU sustainable
development strategy. Malmstrom said the ministers exchanged
views on how to pursue the strategy based on a long-term
vision of sustainability in which economic growth, social
cohesion and environmental protection go hand in hand and are
mutually supporting. Commission Vice President Wallstrom
also referred to the Commission paper released earlier on the
subject.


6. (U) At the post-meeting press conference, journalists

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asked Malmstrom and Wallstrom primarily about who might be
selected for the new EU leadership positions. Malmstrom said
that names were "not discussed" by ministers in the November
16 GAERC as this was the responsibility of EU heads of state
and government. Wallstrom used the occasion to reiterate her
call for the leaders to ensure a gender balance, referring to
the piece she co-signed in the Financial Times with
Commissioner Nellie Kroes and EP Vice President Dana Wallis.
Asked about the formation of the new Commission (for which EU
governments had only nominated three women as of November 17),
Wallstrom gave credit to Barroso, saying the Commission
President was "fully aware" of the problem.

External Relations
--------------


7. (U) Chaired by FM Bildt, discussions of the External
Relations Council focused on Afghanistan, Russia/Ukraine,
Belarus, and ESDP issues. The Council held an informal
exchange of views on Afghanistan in a November 16 joint
meeting with EU Defense Ministers and at the November 16
dinner with NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen.
Afghanistan also dominated the discussion at a separate,
joint session November 17 between EU Foreign and Development
ministers devoted to the general topic of democracy promotion
in EU external relations. The Ministers discussed
Afghanistan extensively with guest UN Special Representative
to Afghanistan Kai Eide, with a focus on expanding the
civilian role in Afghanistan, particularly in regards to
creating a senior civilian representative role that could
help better coordinate civilian and military efforts. Eide
encouraged the ministers to carefully structure its aid
assistance, rather than using PRTs as a primarily mode of
assistance. He emphasized the importance of engaging with
the Afghans on new aid projects, to ensure the projects best
meet Afghan priorities.


8. (U) Regarding Russia/Ukraine, the Council took note of
final preparations for the EU-Russia and EU-Ukraine Summits
to be held respectively in Stockholm on November 18 and Kiev
on December 4. Commissioner for External Relations
Ferrero-Waldner said the "very interesting speech" by
President Medvedev underlining the need to "implement major
reforms in the Russian economy" showed how the EU could be a
"major partner" of Russia. Ferrero-Waldner cited as an
important deliverable for the November 18 Summit in Stockholm
the Early Warning Mechanism signed on November 16 by Energy
Commissioner Piebalgs and the Russian Energy Minister, which
contains practical arrangements to prevent or react to an
emergency situation threatening energy supplies to the EU.


9. (U) The Council reviewed the situation in Belarus and
adopted a formal conclusion to extend until October 2010 the
EU sanctions (restrictive measures). However, in order to
encourage progress in the areas identified by the EU, the
Council decided at the same time to extend the suspension of
the application of the travel restrictions imposed on certain
Belarusian officials. Referring to the conclusions' "firm
and clear" language, Swedish FM Bildt noted that the
conclusions on Belarus were adopted without discussion,
cern over
the lack of change in the expansion of Israeli settleents
and the demolition of houses in East Jerusalem. According to
one diplomat there was discussion over the rise of tensions
in Jerusalea Palestinian state should iclude reference to
Jerusalem as the future capital of such a state.


11. (U) On Iran, Minisers adopted a Council Decision and
Regulationupdating the list of persons and entities inIf B)


12. (C) The Council conducted its six-ohe field of European Security
and Defense Policy (ESDP),in the presence of defense

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ministers. In particular, it:

-- Underlined the contribution of EUNAVFOR-ATALANTA to
maritime security off the coast of Somalia by protecting
World Food Program chartered vessels delivering aid, vessels
supplying critical shipments to the AU peace support
operation in Somalia (Amisom),and other vulnerable vessels,
notably in the Gulf of Aden and in the Somali Basin.

-- Agreed to extend Operation ATALANTA for another year
following the end of the current mandate on December 12.

-- Approved a crisis management concept on a possible ESDP
mission to contribute to the training of security forces of
Somalia's Transitional Federal Government (TFG). According
to French MFA contacts, we understand that a number of
countries have indicated a willingness to contribute forces
and that Spain has volunteered to lead the mission. Training
is expected to take place in Uganda.

-- Welcomed further progress in preparatory planning work for
the possible future development of Operation ALTHEA in Bosnia
toward a non-executive capacity-building and training
operation. It reiterated that a decision on the matter would
necessarily take account of political developments, including
the future role of the EU Special Representative.

-- Highlighted the revision of the Joint Action for the EU
Satellite Center, the document that serves as the legal and
financial basis for the Center's operations. The revised
Joint Action allows the Satellite Center to share information
with all NATO Allies. In this context, the GAERC also noted
the progress made in cooperation between the Satellite Center
and the U.S. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.


13. (U) In the semi-annual meeting with development
ministers, the Council adopted an operational framework on
aid effectiveness containing key measures to reduce the
burden on developing countries and to contribute to a more
effective delivery of aid. The Council also adopted
conclusions on democracy promotion, noting that the EU has an
extensive array of instruments at its disposal in support of
democracy worldwide, which the Council concluded could be
applied more consistently and effectively across various EU
efforts.


14. (U) In response to a question about Macedonia (not
discussed at this GAERC),Bildt characterized the name
dispute as a "bilateral issue" between Greece and Macedonia,
while reiterating support for the efforts of the mediator.
He said that he detected a willingness "on both sides to move
forward," adding: "We can only appeal to both Athens and
Skopje to make use of the will that is there."

MURRAY
.