SWEDISH GOSSIP ON NEW EU POSITIONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L STOCKHOLM 000711 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/12/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV EUN SW SUBJECT: SWEDISH GOSSIP ON NEW EU POSITIONS Classified By: DCM Robert Silverman for reasons 1.4 (B) & (D). ¶1. (C) On November 11, Swedish Deputy EU Correspondent Jonas Wendel gave acting PolCouns the Swedish scoop on the wheeling and dealing for new positions in Brussels. Reinfeldt has already spoken with each EU Member State and the announcement of the November 19 extraordinary meeting is an indication that he has in mind candidates for both the Council President and High Representative for Union of Foreign Affairs. President and High Rep -------------- ¶2. (C) Prime Minister Reinfeldt and his State Secretary Gustav Lind are the only EU Presidency officials involved with selecting a President and High Representative for the Union of Foreign Affairs (HR). Wendel said Swedish politics are not a factor; Reinfeldt is focusing on creating the right job descriptions and then finding appropriate candidates, not the reverse. The job description for the President emphasizes good managerial skills with attention to detail, and strong connections to Brussels (and the intention to stay in Brussels). Wendel said this excludes candidates such as Tony Blair and Carl Bildt. The HR position is almost all political, so the candidate must have great international connections, and be well-respected as a politico. Wendel said an effort will be made to find a balance between left/right and big/small, but not necessarily male/female. Germany "holds the key" and while it will not get one of the two big posts, it will be "rewarded" with good a Commission dossier and heavy senior official posts. Swedish Commissioner -------------- ¶3. (C) For Sweden's Commissioner, Reinfeldt will nominate a candidates from his own party, the Moderates. That excludes Cecilia Malmstrom, Swedish Minister for EU Affairs, from the Liberal Party. Bildt is still in the running domestically (and quietly),but any dossier he would take must include a mandate to draft and impose laws. Economic and trade-related portfolios are the most likely for Bildt--if Reinfeldt can convince Barroso. Comment: Enlargement is politically unlikely due to Bildt's over-enthusiasm for relative to other EU officials. End Comment. BARZUN