NEW EU ICT COMMISSIONER KROES SEEKS AMBASSADOR'S HELP IN

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TAGS: ECPS ECIN EINV EINT ETRD ECON EUN
SUBJECT: NEW EU ICT COMMISSIONER KROES SEEKS AMBASSADOR'S HELP IN
ADDRESSING EU CHALLENGES


1. (SBU) SUMMARY. Incoming EU Digital Agenda Commissioner Neelie
Kroes sought Ambassador Kennard's help during their initial meeting
February 8 in identifying and addressing the major ICT challenges
she will face in her new position. She listed as her priorities
broadband development, infrastructure investment, cybercrime,
copyright and privacy issues, and building the new EU ICT regulatory
body. She hoped to visit senior USG ICT officials in Washington
soon. Kroes stressed her interest in closer U.S.-EU consultation on
digital agenda issues, and the Ambassador agreed to provide her
ideas on improving our cooperation. END SUMMARY.


2. (SBU) In their initial meeting February 8, Neelie Kroes, EU
Competition Commissioner since 2004, welcomed Ambassador Kennard to
Brussels and said she hopes to draw on his extensive ICT background
to help her master her new portfolio as EU Digital Agenda
Commissioner. Kroes said it is "too early to tell" the full range
of challenges she will face in her new role, but identified as
priorities the need to: extend EU broadband coverage; promote
investment in new ICT infrastructure; strengthen the new fledgling
EU ICT regulatory body (BEREC); address cybercrime, copyright and
data privacy issues; and focus ICT R&D spending on the most
innovative regions across the EU.


3. (SBU) The Ambassador stressed the Obama Administration's
forward-thinking commitment to ICT development and deployment, and
openness to transatlantic cooperation in this area. Kroes noted she
plans to travel soon to the U.S., hopefully to meet with FCC Chair
Genachowski and other key U.S. ICT officials, to talk about greater
U.S.-EU ICT cooperation. The Ambassador said he hopes to get
Genachowski to visit Brussels; Kroes said this would be ideal,
preferably in the next few months during the Spanish EU Presidency.


4. (SBU) Kroes sought the Ambassador's advice in helping her
approach key regulatory issues in Brussels, and asked how the role
of the FCC in the U.S. differs from that of the FTC and Department
of Justice, with whom she had close relations as Competition
Commissioner. She explained her interest in helping the new Body of
European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC),
established under the EU telecoms regulatory reform package adopted
in December, get started as a fledgling EU ICT regulatory body. She
is concerned about the degree of independence of the heads of the
member state national regulatory authorities making up BEREC, as
well as the varying levels of competence of the national regulators.
Kroes also noted Member State competition over hosting the seat of
BEREC. She said that if BEREC can be made independent and
effective, however, it could become a strong ally for her.


5. (SBU) The Ambassador emphasized that Kroes' experience as
Competition Commissioner will help her greatly in her new position.
He suggested that overcoming the fragmentation of the EU ICT market
and promoting cable competition with telecoms incumbents to deliver
broadband, (as has occurred successfully in the U.S.),will be
important challenges for her in Europe. Kroes said that while the
EU digital agenda is an important Commission priority, she is aware
that incumbent resistance to market opening, the potential lack of
independence of some national regulators, and the new, more
extensive role of the European Parliament in legislation under
Lisbon will make her job more complicated. The Ambassador agreed to
provide her with ideas on positive areas for U.S.-EU cooperation and
issues that he sees present complex challenges, and both agreed to
work together closely on our joint ICT agenda.

KENNARD