TERRORISM FINANCE: EU ON WAAD PROJECT (U.S.

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 000487 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/01/2019 TAGS: ETTC KTFN PTER EFIN PREL PINR LE KCRM KJUS KHLS, UNSC, EUN SUBJECT: TERRORISM FINANCE: EU ON WAAD PROJECT (U.S. DOMESTIC DESIGNATION) REF: A. STATE 1800 ¶B. BRUSSELS 486 Classified By: USEU Econ Minister-Counselor Peter H. Chase for reasons 1.4 (b),(d),(e). ¶1. (C) Discussing Ref A demarche on the Waad Project, a contact conceded it is unlikely the EU will join the U.S. in an autonomous designation for sanctions. However, the EU has not yet provided a formal reply. On a related note, contact said the EU would still welcome any formal U.S. response to the French Presidency's reply regarding another Hizballah-related U.S. designation demarche on Venezuela-based Hizballah financiers (Ref B). Contact said EU Member States asked for the status of whether the U.S. will reply to their request for more information on the Venezuela-based individuals and entity in the context of considering taking action on the Waad Project designation. Contact further underscored that the EU still lacks consensus to designate Hizballah itself autonomously. USEU will forward any formal substantive reply on the Waad Project demarche when available. MINIMIZE CONSIDERED MURRAY .