EUROPEAN COMMISSION CONSIDERING SUPPORT TO GUINEAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 000200 SENSITIVE SIPDIS AF FOR CAZEAU, MCCARTY E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/19/2025 TAGS: PREL PGOV ASEC EUN GV XA XY EAID SUBJECT: EUROPEAN COMMISSION CONSIDERING SUPPORT TO GUINEAN SECURITY SECTOR REF: SECSTATE 12971 Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Christopher Davis for reaso ns 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (SBU) Summary: The European Commission's Directorate-General for Development is considering providing support to Guinean judicial and security sector reform (JSSR). The Commission's development aid to GUINEA has been largely suspended since September, but a Commission delegation will travel to Conakry in early March to evaluate the situation and consider expanding development cooperation. In the meantime, the Commission is already considering areas where it could contribute quickly, including JSSR, support for mediation efforts and elections, and programs for macroeconomic development. The Commission's desk officer for Guinea, Marc Boucey, responded positively to reftel demarche points, agreeing that it is important for international donors to coordinate their activities early on. He said the Commission wants to send an expert to participate in the UN/ECOWAS assessment mission, probably in April at the earliest, but that ECOWAS had not invited such participation. The Commission is looking for the assessment to provide some guidance for future JSSR programs. Boucey said the ideal time for a donors' meeting would be late March, after the Commission delegation returns from Conakry. Unlike the Commission, EU member states are not considering JSSR in Guinea at the European level. End Summary. -------------- COMMISSION WANTS TO CONTRIBUTE -------------- ¶2. (SBU) On February 19, PolOffs delivered reftel demarche to Marc Boucey, desk officer for GUINEA in the European Commission's Directorate-General for Development. Boucey said that while the Commission has scaled back its development cooperation with GUINEA since the September 28 massacre, recent developments have led the Commission to consider new initiatives, including support to JSSR. Boucey said the challenge would be twofold: identifying what projects could be undertaken in the short term, and mobilizing funds from the Commission's various development instruments. Boucey said the Commission is unsure of what JSSR in GUINEA will entail, and is looking to the UN/ECOWAS assessment mission to provide detailed proposals. For that reason, the Commission would like to send an expert to participate in the mission, probably in April at the earliest. Boucey noted, however, that ECOWAS has not invited the Commission's participation. ¶3. (SBU) The Commission will send a delegation to Conakry in early March to evaluate the situation and consider expanding development cooperation under Article 96 of the Cotonou Agreement. When that delegation returns, the Commission will be in a better position to contribute meaningfully to a donors' meeting. Boucey was not in a position to confirm whether the Commission could host such a meeting, but USEU suspects they would consider hosting if approached again at a higher level. ¶4. (C) Boucey opined that while interim Guinean leader Sekouba Konate appears open to military reform, he will probably be more resistant to meaningful justice reform. Notably, Konate has included men implicated in the September 28 massacre in his cabinet. Boucey argued, however, that if the international community bands together and presses consistently for reform -- using both carrots and sticks -- donors could make some progress. -------------- OTHER ACTORS LESS INVOLVED -------------- ¶5. (C) On the other hand, EU member state representatives suggested that coordinated action at the EU level, such as the launch of a full-fledged security sector reform (SSR) mission, is unlikely. Eva Martinez Sanchez (protect),who chairs the EU's working group on Africa, admitted to PolOff that whereas member states spend a lot of time discussing Zimbabwe, Somalia, and the DRC in the working group, West BRUSSELS 00000200 002 OF 002 Africa is "an orphan" in EU discussions. Member states such as France have historical ties and national interests in Guinea, but most member states simply are not interested in Guinean affairs. Martinez said that even if member states were to consider SSR initiatives, they probably would not do so until after successful elections. France's counselor for African issues, Franck Paris, made similar points in a separate conversation. He said member states are more likely to discuss governance and elections than SSR at this point. He also acknowledged that most member states, led by the UK and the Netherlands, would be skeptical of SSR efforts on a European level. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶6. (C) We will probably find a willing and able partner in the European Commission. Although Commission representatives have not yet decided what development funds to access for JSSR in Guinea, there are many from which to choose. Short-term (18 months or less) security projects can be funded from the Commission's Instrument for Stability, while the regional development fund can support longer term initiatives. Often, the Commission can disperse its funds without extensive consultation with member states, so it may be a more nimble actor. On the other hand, the Commission cannot launch a boots-on-the-ground SSR mission. MURRAY .