EU COMMISSION PLEASED BY MAJOR ECONOMIES FORUM

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 000449

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON EIND ENRG EUN EWWT KGHG SENV TPHY TRGY
TSPL
SUBJECT: EU COMMISSION PLEASED BY MAJOR ECONOMIES FORUM
INITIATIVE

REF: BRUSSELS 390


1. (SBU) Representatives from the cabinets of EU Commission
President Barroso and Environment Commissioner Dimas and from
DG Environment expressed their pleasure at the initiative
shown by President Obama to continue the Major Economies
Process in the form of the Major Economies Forum on Energy
and Climate. In what was a telling meeting, it is becoming
apparent that President Barroso's office is moving into the
lead in the climate conversation in the Commission en route
to Copenhagen, as Matthew Baldwin, a member of Barroso's
Cabinet, led the discussion. (Note: In a separate
conversation, a DG Environment official expressed that
Matthew Baldwin and President Barroso are taking charge of
the climate portfolio. End note.) Also, while no definite
names were put forward as the Leader's representative, it
seems likely that Joao Vale de Almeida, Head of Cabinet for
President Barroso, will take the position, a departure from
last year when Jos Delbeke, then Acting Director General for
DG Environment, represented the Commission.


2. (SBU) Baldwin was accompanied by Laurence Graff, of Dimas'
Cabinet, and Artur Runge-Metzger, DG Environment's Head of
the International Climate Negotiations Unit. Baldwin
provided several insights into his view of the MEF, including
thoughts on timing, agenda, and attendance. Overall, he
likes the process and explained that though the EU was
skeptical when it started last year, it worked; now he would
like to make the MEF more operational and intimate. He said
that May will be a very difficult month for the Commission,
with several summits taking place. He asked that we provide
even "undefinitive" dates for May and June as soon as
possible, noting that May 21-22 is completely out for de
Almeida.


3. (SBU) Echoing earlier statements by the Commission,
Baldwin listed three focal points for the agenda: (1)
mitigation commitments from both developed and developing
countries, (2) financial architecture and governance (not
discussing numbers at this point),and (3) green technology
transfer to developing countries. He noted that forestry is
very important and should be included in the discussions on
commitments and financial architecture. He appreciated the
inclusion of Denmark, and noted that Sweden will want to be a
part from the start, though he understood why they were not
at the moment. He intimated that the EU Presidency
delegation may well include a (non-speaking) representative
from Stockholm. (Note: Sweden will represent the EU as the
Presidency country during the Leaders' meeting in July,
though will not have officially attended any of the
preparatory meetings under the current format. End note.)


4. (SBU) Overall, Baldwin had several ideas and thoughts,
though nothing definite, for the MEF. He argued that the MEF
needs an outcome more specific then the G-8 or the MEM. He
said that coming to a significant understanding among the MEF
countries on climate in three meetings is very optimistic,
but hinted that there could be some "code" in the language of
the statement that hints to the key pieces of a deal. The
problem, he claimed, is the tendency of major emerging
economies to hide behind the negotiating process. He
recommended one way to facilitate agreement on key concepts
could be to parallel the G-8 sherpa process with a series of
thought papers before each MEF meeting on the key issues to
be considered.


5. (SBU) Baldwin and Runge-Metzger also commented on the
UNFCCC process and their thoughts for Bonn and for the year.
The EU will want to avoid discussion about financing figures
absent clarity on mitigation targets, both from developed and
developing countries. They did not dwell on their
perspectives of the current U.S. target, instead saying that
they want to avoid the situation where everyone is looking
expectantly at the U.S. Focusing on developing countries,
Runge-Metzger said he would like to see more commitment, and
that the terms "comparability" and "common but
differentiated" will come into play frequently to balance
"measurable, reportable, and verifiable." This, they argued,
could lead to "trenches" being dug by various delegations,
and Baldwin said that we need to use Leaders' meetings such
as the MEF to break through these trenches.


6. (SBU) Comment: The process in the EU continues to move
forward, but at a much slower pace than originally perceived
in light of the Commission's Communication on the path to
Copenhagen. The EU Heads of State and Government recently
displayed their unwillingness at this stage to make strong

BRUSSELS 00000449 002 OF 002


commitments on finance (reftel). All three indicated that it
will be difficult and time consuming to develop a common
position, and they are eager to hear our thoughts on this
issue, perhaps opening the door to U.S. leadership. They
expressed a willingness to cooperate closely with the U.S.
and are looking forward to the MEF, which they believe
provides a strong opportunity to move the debate forward.
End comment.

MURRAY
.