FEBRUARY GAERC - EU FOREIGN MINISTERS FOCUS ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BRUSSELS 000277

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/24/2019
TAGS: PREL EUN ECON AF AL BK EZ MW SR
SUBJECT: FEBRUARY GAERC - EU FOREIGN MINISTERS FOCUS ON
ECONOMIC RECOVERY AND AFGHANISTAN

REF: A. BRUSSELS 247

B. BRUSSELS 262

C. BRUSSELS 219

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Classified By: USEU POL M-C Chris Davis for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: In Brussels on February 23, EU Foreign
Ministers, meeting in General Affairs Council, discussed
preparations for the March 19-20 European Council meeting and
discussed proposals for investments in energy and
infrastructure under the economic recovery plan. The
External Affairs Council devoted its attention to
Afghanistan, the Middle East, Eastern Partnership, and the
Western Balkans. Reaffirming the Council's commitment to
Afghanistan, Czech FM Schwarzenberg said that "now is the
time to examine options for increasing European support."
Ministers warned Belarus not to recognize Abkhazia or South
Ossetia, Schwarzenberg saying that Belarus would be "out of
the European consensus and this is very clear to them."
During the working lunch on the Western Balkans, EU High
Representative for CFSP Javier Solana announced that Austrian
candidate Valentin Inszko was his choice as new EUSR in
Bosnia, to the surprise of many. Ministers told Albania
during the February 24 EU-Albania troika that the conduct of
upcoming elections would be closely monitored and advised
Albania not to rush their EU membership application. End
Summary.

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


2. (SBU) Chaired by Czech DPM Alexandr Vondra, the General
Affairs session focused on preparations for the upcoming
European Council meeting March 19-20 and the European
economic recovery plan. Concerning preparations for the
European Council - both the informal session on March 1 and
the regular session March 19-20 - Vondra said that the
presidency wanted to ensure a common response to the economic
crisis. He said that he expected the March 1 informal in
Brussels to address the following:
- functioning of the financial sector and restoration of
credit flows,
- coordination of implementation of the recovery measures at
the national level (including measures to support the
automotive industry),
- limiting and/or preventing job losses,
- and preparations for the G20 summit meeting.


3. (SBU) Vondra shared that the focus for ministers at the
March 19-20 meeting would be on three areas. First, they
will evaluate the economic and financial situation under
which the EU heads of state and government will address
short-term measures based on the European recovery plan - as
well as the Lisbon strategy - and a mandate of the EU 27 for
the G20 summit meeting. Second, they will take up energy and
climate change issues. Third, they will focus on the Eastern
Partnership Initiative.


4. (SBU) Turning his attention to the European economic
recovery plan, Vondra said ministers looked at the revised
list of projects and their financing. It was the
presidency's view that reaching agreement on the package is
extremely important, as is the response to the gas crisis.
Vondra added "many members stressed the need to reach
agreement as soon as possible, but there is more work to be
done in COREPER on the list of projects and the financing."
In the meantime, Vondra suggested that the presidency will
start approaching the European Parliament for discussions
about the plan.

External Affairs: Afghanistan
--------------


5. (SBU) The EU-27 foreign ministers, meeting as the
External Affairs Council, chaired by Czech FM Schwarzenberg,
discussed - and issued formal Conclusions related to -
Afghanistan, the Middle East, Eastern Partnership, and the
Western Balkans. On Afghanistan, Schwarzenberg reported at
the post-GAERC press conference that ministers had agreed
that "now is the time" to increase European support. He
underscored that the EU had an important role to play in
funding the elections and deploying an observer mission.
Schwarzenberg also highlighted the EU's support with the
police mission as well as the importance of EU support being
"complementary to the efforts of others." He said that the
European Commission could focus on governance the and rule of
law. Schwarzenberg underlined the importance of the

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"regional dimension" in the fight against terrorism,
counternarcotics, and trade, saying the EU would continue to
work with the U.S. on "a common approach for a stronger and
safer Afghanistan."


6. (SBU) Commissioner for External Relations Ferrero-Waldner
said that she would "very shortly send an exploratory mission
to Afghanistan to see whether we can observe the elections,"
based on the security situation. Solana said that the EU
would continue working with the U.S., and that the EU will
continue to support its police mission there, characterizing
it as "our most important contribution." Asked for details
about the police mission, Schwarzenberg said there has to be
"full staffing." Schwarzenberg said he personally thought
the EU should work in the civilian sector. He argued there is
always the need to reassess strategy after some time, then,
referring to the elections, said attention will have to be
devoted to counting votes. Solana maintained the target date
of June for doubling the staffing of the police mission.


7. (C/NF) According to member state contacts, ministers
agreed that the EU must "sort itself out" on Afghanistan by
focusing on specific areas where the EU can be successful.
Ministers agreed on four areas where the EU could play an
important role: elections, policing, financial assistance,
and regional cooperation. The presidency suggested that the
27 FMs discuss in their respective capitals contributing in
those four areas. They should then be prepared to present
their views at a follow-up discussion on Afghanistan at the
Foreign Ministers dinner on the margins of the March 19-20
European Council meeting. Contacts noted that U.S.
encouragement to member states to contribute to a greater EU
role in any of the four mentioned areas could be helpful.
High Representative Solana reportedly stressed that falling
down on EUPOL would make the EU "look very bad."
Ferrero-Waldner told FMs the Commission's assessment team
would meet with NATO ISAF to discuss how ISAF could help
address security concerns, as General Petraeus had suggested
in his February 12 meeting with EU leaders (ref A).
Middle East
--------------


8. (SBU) On the Middle East, Schwarzenberg said that
ministers discussed preparations for the Sharm al-Sheikh
conference March 2. He noted the need to direct
international aid "through the Palestinian Authority,"
Ferrero-Waldner also stressing the importance of using the
Pegasus financial mechanism. Solana announced that he would
be traveling to the region starting February 24 (ref B).
Eastern Partnership
--------------


9. (SBU) More progress was made on the Eastern Partnership,
Schwarzenberg noting that this had been the first time the
ministers had addressed the issue with the aim of "confirming
the political and strategic scope of the program." He said
there was "general consensus that the concept is viable and
we discussed the level of commitments, visa and migration
related issues, and we will now concentrate on drawing
conclusions for upcoming meetings." Following Solana's
mention that he had briefed the Council on his trip to
Belarus, Schwarzenberg said that recognition of Abkhazia and
South Ossetia would create "a really difficult situation for
Belarus - they would be out of the European consensus and
this is very clear to them." Answering a question suggesting
that ministers had discussed the possibility of associating
Russia and Turkey in aspects of the Eastern Partnership on a
case-by-case basis, Schwarzenberg said "there is nothing to
be said against that." He added that third countries can
participate - mentioning Japan, the U.S., and China - and
that the EU was open to cooperation with many countries (ref
C).

Western Balkans
--------------


10. (C/NF) The Western Balkans reportedly dominated the
working lunch at the GAERC. In the press conference which
followed, Schwarzenberg did not announce the selection of a
new EUSR for Bosnia. Solana reported that the EU still
needed to "exchange views" with other members of the PIC
(U.S., Russia and Turkey),adding that February 24 "that will
be done." On Montenegro, Schwarzenberg reported that
ministers discussed how to proceed with Montenegro's EU
membership application, but did not provide any further
details. During a press conference on February 24, Czech FM
Schwarzenberg expressed hope that consensus could be reached,

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but declined to pronounce whether this would be taken up
again at the March GAERC. (Note: We understand from our
colleagues at Embassy Prague that the presidency is
considering the addition of Montenegro as an "A item" on the
March GAERC agenda; i.e., approved without discussion. End
note.) While Schwarzenberg mentioned that ministers
exchanged views about the Stabilization and Association
Agreement with Serbia, no decision was reached to either
unfreeze the SAA or send an independent fact-finding mission
to evaluate Serbian ICTY compliance.


11. (C/NF) While we understand that Solana announced Inszko
to be his choice for EUSR in Bosnia during the working lunch
- reportedly catching many ministers off guard - no decision
on the matter was taken by the Council. Some member-state
contacts tell us that they were convinced that for Solana to
announce his choice, the U.S. must have been on board with
his decision. As a result, there was reportedly little
discussion following Solana's announcement. Solana, in fact,
reportedly told ministers that he would have to first consult
with members of the PIC before announcing his decision
publicly. As we understand it from our UK counterparts, FM
Miliband left the meeting under the impression that no
decision had been reached, Solana simply expressing his
preference. A well-placed Council Secretariat contact,
visibly frustrated by what had transpired, characterized the
situation as an "awful administrative mess."


12. (C/NF) We also understand from a number of our
member-state and EU contacts that the current economic crisis
is making many Member States more cautious on enlargement.
According to member-state contacts, there was no consensus on
Montenegro's membership application due to "considerable
resistance" from Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands. A
well-placed Council Secretariat contact told us that while
the "fundamentals (of enlargement) were unchanged, these
times make it difficult" for Member States - "especially
Germany." Schwarzenberg's frustration was evident in the
press conference following the Februiary 24 EU-Albania
troika, Schwarzenberg saying that the economic crisis was
making people "more careful." Other contacts share with us
privately that "a golden opportunity" - in the form of the
pro-enlargement, pro-Western Balkan Czech and Swedish
presidencies - could be missed and that enlargement process
could be set back two years given that the following
presidencies - Spanish and Belgian - are unlikely to be
enlargement friendly.

Troikas
--------------


13. (C/NF) An EU-Lebanon meeting followed by a Quad meeting
with the Council of Europe followed on February 23, followed
by the ministerial troika meeting with Albania on February

24. As we understand it from well-placed Council Secretariat
sources, the Albanians were advised not to rush their
membership application (we are hearing the Albanians will
likely do so in the March/April time frame) and to conduct
their upcoming elections in a "model fashion."
MURRAY
.