USEU DELIVERY OF SSA NON-PAPER TO EU COMMISSION

UNCLAS BRUSSELS 000524 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR ISN/MDSP RBUENNEKE STATE FOR OES/SAT DTURNER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ESA EUN EZ FR GM MCAP NASA PARM PREL TSPA SUBJECT: USEU DELIVERY OF SSA NON-PAPER TO EU COMMISSION AND COUNCIL REF: STATE 28300 This is an action request. Please see paragraph 2. ¶1. (SBU) OES DAS Jeff Miotke deivered the reftel Non-Paper to Paul Weissenberg, EU Commission Director for Aerospace, Defense, and Security Industry in DG Enterprise, on March 25. Weissenberg told DAS Miotke that he was pleased with the Non-Paper because it was "NATO light" and because it proposed to expand space security cooperation. He emphasized that this cooperation cannot proceed with the Commission working through NATO, but might work with NATO. He noted that he has more interaction with the Pentagon across the Atlantic than he does with NATO officials from across town. EU political leadership insists that SSA and other security cooperation proceed as part of the growing European defense identity. ¶2. USEU EconOff subsequently delivered the Non-Paper to Helene-Diane Dage in DG Enterprise and Jan Ahladeff, Head of Section in the EU Council General Secretariat's DG E VIII for Defense Issues. Both Dage and Ahladeff appreciated the Non-Paper and U.S. interests to expand space security cooperation. Neither Dage nor Ahladeff provided much substantive feedback. Ahladeff also commented that the paper was NATO light and explained that he and his DG have close working relationships with Weissenberg and his security team, including Dage. Dage said that she will come back with further questions. She also expressed the Commission's interest in further details on the Iridium-Russian satellite collision. Action request: Post requests the Department forward guidance and further information for delivery to the Commission and Council on this issue. MURRAY .