SWEDEN AND EU INVITE USG TO ATTEND DONOR

UNCLAS STOCKHOLM 000680 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KGHG ECON EAID EPET ECIN ENRG UK SW SUBJECT: SWEDEN AND EU INVITE USG TO ATTEND DONOR CONFERENCE ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND ENVIRONMENT IN EASTERN EUROPE REF: OCTOBER 27 E-MAIL FROM RLAROCHE TO EUR-NB-DL (SJOHNSON) ¶1. On October 26, Post received an invitation (ref) to attend an information meeting at the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs (MFA)to discuss mobilizing grant funding from donors for a support fund to help achieve greater energy efficiency and energy security in Eastern Europe. The invitation also announced a donors conference to be held on November 26, 2009 to launch this initiative. ¶2. On October 29, Emboff attended the meeting along with representatives from other major European embassies. Officials from the MFA's Department for Eastern Europe and Central Asia proposed a donor conference for November 26, pointing out that Eastern Europe needs to undertake substantial measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, import dependencies and costs by establishing a financial mechanism to promote investments in energy efficiency beginning with the Ukraine. The Ukrainian Ambassador reminded participants that the Ukraine needs to reduce its dependence on imported gas. ¶3. The November 26 date is provisional at this stage and may well be moved. Post urges Washington to send a representative to attend this conference. BARZUN