(S/NF) KUDOS AND FOLLOWUP QUESTIONS ON BALTIC

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 047918 NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/11/2034 TAGS: PINR ECON ENRG EPET EUN BE LG LH SUBJECT: (S/NF) KUDOS AND FOLLOWUP QUESTIONS ON BALTIC ENERGY INTERCONNECTIONS (C-RE9-00969) REF: USEU BRUSSELS 000311 Classified By: SUZANNE MCCORMICK, DIR., INR/OPS. REASON: 1.4(C). ¶1. (C/NF) WASHINGTON ANALYSTS WOULD LIKE TO SEND KUDOS TO POST FOR THE VERY INSIGHTFUL REFTEL ON BALTIC ENERGY INTERCONNECTIONS, WHICH WILL BE USED IN FINISHED PRODUCTS. ANALYSTS WOULD APPRECIATE ANY ADDITIONAL REPORTING ON EU ASSISTANCE TO JOINT BALTIC ENERGY PROJECTS IF THIS INFORMATION CAN BE ACQUIRED IN THE NORMAL COURSE OF BUSINESS. ADDITIONALLY, ANALYSTS WOULD APPRECIATE BIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION ON ANY INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE PART OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION'S HIGH-LEVEL GROUP SET UP TO HELP ESTONIA, LATVIA, AND LITHUANIA, AS WELL AS THEIR BALTIC SEA NEIGHBORS, DEVELOP AN INTERCONNECTION PLAN TO IMPROVE ENERGY SECURITY, AS TIME AND RESOURCES PERMIT. THIS INFORMATION WILL HELP US POLICYMAKERS UNDERSTAND WHOM TO REACH OUT TO CONCERNING BALTIC ENERGY SECURITY. THANK YOU AND REGARDS FROM WASHINGTON. ¶A. (SBU) ARE THERE ANY OTHER KEY PLAYERS IN THE EU DEALING WITH BALTIC ENERGY SECURITY ISSUES THAT US POLICYMAKERS SHOULD BE AWARE OF? IF SO, PLEASE DESCRIBE THESE INDIVIDUALS. ¶B. (SBU) HOW WILL THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT ELECTION IN JUNE 2009 AND THE NOMINATION OF A NEW EU COMMISSIONER FOR ENERGY AFFECT THE WORK OF THE COMMISSION'S HIGH-LEVEL GROUP? ¶2. (U) PLEASE CITE C-RE9-00969 IN THE SUBJECT LINE OF REPORTING IN RESPONSE TO THE ABOVE QUESTIONS. CLINTON