Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10ATHENS198
2010-02-10 14:16:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Athens
Cable title:  

GREECE???"New Directions in the U.S-Greece Economic

Tags:  ECON EAID ETRD ENRG GR 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0002
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHTH #0198/01 0411417
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O R 101416Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY ATHENS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1505
INFO RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
RUEHTH/AMEMBASSY ATHENS
UNCLAS ATHENS 000198 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON EAID ETRD ENRG GR
SUBJECT: GREECE???"New Directions in the U.S-Greece Economic
Relationship" U.S.- Greece Economic and Commercial Cooperation
Commission Meeting, March 17-19, 2010

STATE for EEB/CBA - Hariton

STATE for S/EEE - Neff

STATE pass to USAID

STATE pass to EPA

Commerce for ITA/MAC - Hilleary Smith



This is an action cable. See paras 1-2.



UNCLAS ATHENS 000198

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON EAID ETRD ENRG GR
SUBJECT: GREECE???"New Directions in the U.S-Greece Economic
Relationship" U.S.- Greece Economic and Commercial Cooperation
Commission Meeting, March 17-19, 2010

STATE for EEB/CBA - Hariton

STATE for S/EEE - Neff

STATE pass to USAID

STATE pass to EPA

Commerce for ITA/MAC - Hilleary Smith



This is an action cable. See paras 1-2.




1. Post is seeking to recruit senior level Administration
officials to participate in a mid-March (likely March 17-19)
strategic economic dialogue with Greek counterparts. The United
States-Greece Economic and Commercial Cooperation Commission (ECCC)
re-established in 2007 to channel senior dialogue on key bilateral
and regional economic and financial issues, has taken on added
urgency with Greece's budget deficit crisis and a new Greek
government's major initiatives to both restructure the country's
post WWII economic framework and inject badly needed transparency
into government operations.




2. Post requests Department assistance in reaching out to
Departments of Commerce, Energy, Treasury, USAID, Small Business
Administration, and the Environmental Protection Agency, to apprise
them of the ECCC's goals (detailed below) and the critical role
their principals can play in shaping a new Greek economy while
advancing key U.S. foreign policy and trade objectives.




3. Greek Prime Minister Papandreou's explicit acknowledgement
that his country must drastically and quickly reform its economy,
as well as Greece's desire for increased international trade and
investment, create new opportunities for diversifying and building
the United States-Greece economic relationship. With the new Greek
government's focus on economic reform, innovation, e-government,
and the "greening" of the economy, we have an almost unique
opportunity to advance our mutual objectives, expand U.S. exports
of goods and services, and help Greece become a stronger, more
stable and prosperous partner in the region and beyond. Greece has
recently partnered with the United States on major projects for
women's education and potable water in Afghanistan and is seeking
further opportunities to link on projects in this area and others.




4. Greek officials have shown strong interest in scientific
exchange, particularly as it relates to innovative and "green"

technologies (renewable),and in making the structural reforms to
create a more business-friendly environment and to promote foreign
direct investment. For U.S. exporters of goods and services, as
well as current and potential investors, the ECCC represents the
kind of commercial diplomacy that can support President Obama's
recently-announced "National Export Initiative" to expand U.S.
exports two-fold over five years.




5. In addition to the strategic dialogue economic issues, ECCC
participants will:

* Explore a new export initiative, focusing on innovation,
"green" energy, environmental technologies, IT/software and
security/safety of borders/airports/ports;

* Establish increased partnership between USAID and
Hellenic Aid focused in key areas, including Afghanistan and the
Western Balkans;

* Identify concrete initiatives to improve intellectual
property protection and enforcement;

* Discuss the negative impact and credibility gap when
Greek government financial obligations, such as pharmaceutical and
medical device debts, go unpaid;

* Identify opportunities for cooperation in renewable



energy, energy efficiency, and border security;

* Seek opportunities to increase activity under the
bilateral S&T agreement, including expanding scientific exchanges
and joint R&D projects;

* Share best practices on e-governance and explore a
U.S.-Greek partnership in Greece;

* Support Greece's role as a gas/oil transit country, to
enhance energy security for Europe by diversifying its sources and
routes;

* Discuss Greek government procurement practices to boost
opportunities for U.S. firms.




6. The Greek government is hosting this year's ECCC and is
proposing a two-day session with one day focused on
government-to-government issues and one half-day devoted to private
sector themes.




7. For the government-to-government dialogue, senior officials
from a cross section of government agencies in both countries will
share views, define clear objectives for cooperation, and agree on
concrete strategies to achieve those objectives. To ensure the
fullest range of detailed discussions, topic-focused working groups
led by responsible agencies may be set up to report conclusions to
a plenary.




8. Potential events for the ECCC private sector element
include:

* Meeting with senior Greek officials on the latest
developments on Greece's economic stability program and engagement
with the European Union.



* Meeting with Greek business leaders and industrialists,
hosted by SEV, to hear views on what reforms are/should be
addressed and which sectors should be highlighted for economic
development.



* Meeting with U.S. business community in Greece, hosted by
the American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce in Greece, to hear about
challenges and opportunities in the marketplace.



* Roundtables, organized by business sector or topic, with
American and Greek business representatives speaking candidly to
Greek and U.S. government officials about opportunities for, and
challenges to, investing/doing business in Greece.




9. Post envisions the ECCC agenda unfolding thus:




I. Opening Plenary Session: Delegation leaders from the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs (possibly Deputy Foreign Minister Kouvelis) and
Departments of State and Commerce set the objectives and framework
for the day's work. Press coverage; photo spray at the top.



II. Single Discussion or Concurrent Working Discussions - Morning
(no press)



Global Macro-Economic Trends: Discussion of current trends in the
global economy and their impact on Greece's economy and private
business. U.S. side could share Obama Administration priorities
for and paths to economic recovery; Greek side could discuss
challenges with budget deficit and economic reform. (U.S. Treasury



and Greek Finance and Economy Ministries)



Energy Diversification and Efficiency: Review of Greece's domestic
energy needs and ways to encourage foreign and domestic investment
in the energy sector, while increasing the efficiency and
environmental friendliness of energy use. Explore opportunities
for joint cooperation in the field of renewable energy,
particularly photovoltaic and wind technologies. Greece's role as
a transit country for regional oil and gas projects, as well as the
policy tools for accomplishing this, should also be discussed.
(U.S. Department of Energy, State EEB/CBA, Ambassador Morningstar's
office, and Greek Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate
Change.)



E-Governance and Transparency: Discuss the Greek government's
desire to introduce e-governance throughout a broad swath of public
institutions (including the Ministries of Finance, Health, Economy,
Justice, and Citizens' Protection),helping to increase
transparency and reduce bureaucracy. Explore opportunities for
sharing U.S. best practices on e-governance. Discuss possible
e-governance technical assistance to improve efficiency and
effectiveness of Greek government systems, such as tax collection.
(Greek Finance and Economy Ministries, U.S. Department of State,
and U.S. Treasury)



III. Delegation Lunch



IV. Single Discussion or Concurrent Working Discussions - Afternoon
(no press)



Building an Innovative Economy: Discussion of the elements of a
knowledge-based, internationally competitive economy, including
topics like rule of law, intellectual property protection and
enforcement, educational flexibility, access to credit and
investment by start-up companies and SME's, and the role of
governments in providing basic regulatory, telecommunications, and
transportation infrastructure. (U.S. Department of State and Greek
Ministry of Economy)



Business Partnerships Around the Globe: Discussion of the
potential for business and other economic cooperation in third
markets during which we should identify markets with potential for
cooperation and discuss mechanisms for increasing cooperation with
the business sector. A potential for follow-on cooperation between
SEV and the U.S.-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce with their Balkan and
Eastern Mediterranean counterparts is possible. (Ministry of
Economy, Competitiveness, and Shipping, and Department of State.)



Development Assistance Cooperation in Emerging Democracies:
Discussion of the potential for Hellenic Aid to participate in the
development, capacity building, and reconstruction of fragile
states, such as Afghanistan, Western Balkan and Sub-Saharan
nations. Explore opportunities for collaboration between Hellenic
Aid and USAID in Greece's target countries. (USAID and Hellenic
Aid.)




V. Concluding Plenary Session: Leaders of the working sessions
report their conclusions back to the plenary group, and assemble a
consolidated list of conclusions and recommendations, which will
form the basis of an "Action Plan" to be finalized shortly
thereafter and published on each country's respective public
websites. The Action Plan will guide the ECCC's work for the
coming year, providing concrete benchmarks and forming the basis of
a report card. Approval of press statement. (no press)


I.

VI. Meeting with Prime Minister (and Foreign Minister) Papandreou
and/or Deputy Foreign Minister Kouvelis: Heads of Delegation



report to the senior political leadership on the day's discussions
and conclusions.



VII. Statements to Press and Questions and Answers: Heads of
delegation hold a press conference to report to the Greek, U.S.,
and international press, as well as to the private sector, on the
conclusions and recommendations developed during the day's
meetings.



VIII. Reception/Dinner (government delegations and private sector
representatives)
Speckhard