NETHERLANDS/EU: DUTCH VIEWS ON THE JUNE GAERC

UNCLAS THE HAGUE 000340

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL EU NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/EU: DUTCH VIEWS ON THE JUNE GAERC
AGENDA

REF: A. GIAUQUE EMAIL 06-04-2009

B. MANN-FLACKS EMAIL 06-10-2009

C. THE HAGUE 307

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY.


1. (SBU) SUMMARY/BACKGROUND: The Dutch views on the economic
crisis, EU institutions, climate change negotiations,
Russia-Ukraine gas, the Western Balkans, the Middle East
Peace Process, Syria, Cuba, and Sudan are described in the
following paragraphs. MFA officials Rochus Pronk and Peter
Jan Kleiweg briefed local diplomats on June 10 (views below).
Post conveyed Department's priorities (ref A) to Pronk and
other key contacts at the MFA. Post will separately submit a
summary of the MFA's June letter to parliament on the GAERC
agenda. END SUMMARY/BACKGROUND.


2. (SBU) VIEWS FROM THE DUTCH MFA STAFF:
-- Economic Crisis: The Dutch welcomed news that EU stimulus
efforts will reach 5% of GDP (Note: This refers to the
provisional conclusions of the June 8-9 ECOFIN meeting. End
Note.) During the meeting of the European Council June
18-19, PM Balkenende will call for members to keep in mind,
as they respond to the crisis, their obligation to manage
their budgets properly. Ministers will likely take up the
situation of Latvia, which may require additional budget
support. The Dutch were pleased to see Iceland meeting
deposit guarantees, which otherwise would be a difficult
issue when Iceland submits its EU membership application
later this summer.

-- EU institutions: The Dutch previously announced their
support for another term for European Commission President
Barroso.

-- Climate Change Negotiations: The Dutch continue to aim for
"ambitious" results.

-- Russia-Ukraine gas: The European Council will take up PM
Putin's proposal that the EU provide 5 billion euros for
Ukraine to purchase Russian gas to build up its reserves. As
well as the political and economic ramifications of this
idea, the EU would have to address legal and institutional
issues involved in providing such significant assistance to a
non-EU member. The EU is sending a fact-finding mission to
Ukraine to learn more.

-- Western Balkans: The Dutch continue to oppose closer EU
ties with Serbia and Croatia until those nations fully
cooperate with the International Criminal Tribunal for the
Former Yugoslavia (ICTY). Recent reports by ICTY prosecutor
Brammertz have shown some progress, but not full cooperation.
Regarding the Slovenia-Croatia dispute, the Dutch see the
matter as a bilateral concern but will support efforts by the
parties to resolve the matter. The Dutch "will not take
sides." Regarding Bosnia, the majority of the Dutch
parliament supports an EU Stabilization and Association
Agreement. Ministers in Brussels will take up the issue of
how to meet the "5 2" criteria and subsequently close the
Office of the High Representative.

-- Middle East Peace Process: FM Verhagen will brief the
Dutch parliament June 11, noting that there has been a lot of
movement in the region, with the speech by President Obama,
travel by Special Envoy Mitchell, and the upcoming speech by
PM Netanyahu. Verhagen will encourage the parliament to be
prepared to support a final status agreement.

-- Syria: The Dutch would like to see more progress on human
rights and democracy efforts before approving a EU-Syria
association agreement.

-- Cuba: The Dutch support continued political dialogue with
Q-- Cuba: The Dutch support continued political dialogue with
Cuba as approved by the EU in 2008, but the Dutch would like
to see a clear evaluation of the results in 2010. So far the
results have been mixed. Final language on renewing the EU's
common position will likely be approved at the ministerial
level rather than among civil servants.

-- Sudan: The Dutch have circulated a non-paper on Sudan (ref
B). The Dutch are concerned that the situation is not
improving, and have asked for the EU to make this a "full

agenda" item. The Dutch expect a larger debate during the
next GAERC meeting.
GALLAGHER