Update on Swedish EU Presidency Minister for Communications

UNCLAS STOCKHOLM 000718

STATE PASS USTR FOR DAVID WEINER AND KIRA ALVAREZ

STATE PASS FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

STATE PASS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

COMMERCE FOR NTIA

NSC FOR KRISTINA KVEIN

USEU FOR CHASE AND LIPPEAT

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECPS ETTC KIPR SENV EINT ETRD OVIP PGOV SW
SUBJECT: Update on Swedish EU Presidency Minister for Communications
and Transport Visit to Washington to Get Input for EU Transport and
ICT Strategies

REF: Stockholm 715


1. (U) Summary: In Reftel, Post recommended appropriate
policy-level Washington officials meet with Swedish Minister of
Communications Asa Torstensson during her November 30-December 3
visit because she is seeking U.S. input into her efforts to "set the
starting position" for discussions of the EU ICT and Transport
Agenda. Post has received additional information about the visit,
and how it plugs into the EU efforts to develop its ICT strategy for
the next five years and its Transport strategy for the next 10
years. End Summary.

Appointments Obtained So Far
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2. (U) Contrary to Reftel, the Swedish Embassy has not yet obtained
an appointment for Minister Torstensson with OMB's Vivek Kundra.
The confirmed meetings currently are:

Annesh Chopra, OSTP
Rob Atkinson, CEO of ITIF
Rep Oberstar

The Swedish side say they are also most likely meet with the
research arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in
conjunction with a meeting the Swedish Embassy is hosting for the
science counselors of EU member state embassies.

The Swedish Embassy has requested meetings with:

Vivek Kundra, OMB
Secretary Locke at the Department of Commerce;
Julius Genachowski, the Chairman of the FCC
Sen Jay Rockefeller
Joseph Szabo, Federal Railroad Administration

Because Secretary of Transportation LaHood will not be in Washington
during the Minister's visit, the Swedish side is looking in to the
possibility of setting up a meeting in Moscow (where both
Torstensson and LaHood will be attending a road safety conference
this week),or possibly setting up a meeting with DOT's Deputy
Secretary.


3. (U) The Swedish Ministry of Communications and Transport
organizer for the trip, Petter Bryman, provided additional
information on the purpose for the visit, including how it will help
set the starting point for EU discussions of both Transport and ICT
strategy.


4. (U) The is currently conducting a strategic review of its
transport and ICT policies, which will result in the publication in
2010 of a new transport policy strategy for the coming ten years and
a new ICT policy strategy for the coming five years. As the current
holder of the EU Presidency, Sweden's main priority in the field of
transport and ICT policy has been to discuss and define the common
strategic priorities of the EU member states' governments for the
coming five to ten years. As a part of this process several
conferences and stakeholder meetings as well as numerous bilateral
and multilateral discussions between EU ministers have already taken
place.


5. (U) In the November 13 meeting with Ambassador Barzun (reftel),
Minister Torstensson explained how her visit to Washington comes at
a defining juncture in this process. The final negotiations among EU
transport and ICT ministers and the adoption of their recommendation
for the strategies to be presented next year will take place at a
meeting in Brussels on 17 and 18 December that Torstensson will
chair. In light of this, the Minister said she wants to hear what
American policy makers see as the main challenges for transport and
ICT in the coming five to ten years and how they intend to tackle
them.


6. (U) Regarding the requested meetings on transport, Bryman said
one of the main challenges for the EU over the next decade is to
create an integrated transport system for all modes of transport.
Bryman also noted that Europe is a leader in efforts to limit
greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector.


7. (U) Additional contact information for trip organizer Petter
Bryman:

Petter Bryman
International Secretariat
Ministry of Enterprise, Energy and Communications
10333 Stockholm, SWEDEN
Tel 46 8 405 36 17
Cell 46 761 42 08 03


8. (U) Comment: As noted in reftel, this visit presents an
opportunity to shape the Swedish EU Presidency perspective as
Torstensson develops the Member States conclusions on what Europe's
ICT and Transport strategy should be.

BARZUN