VZCZCXRO0618
PP RUEHIK RUEHPOD RUEHYG
DE RUEHBS #3249/01 2991518
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 261518Z OCT 07
FM USEU BRUSSELS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY
INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 003249 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/ERA, EUR/RPM, AND S/CT 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PTER EUN
SUBJECT: SECURITY AND DEFENSE AGENDA HOSTS CONFERENCE ON 
"DEFINING A EUROPEAN SECURITY STRATEGY" 
 
 
¶1.  (U) Summary.  Discussion at a high-level conference on 
European security, October 18 in Brussels, focused on the 
need for greater action to build "European level" 
capabilities to confront complex, cross-border security 
threats.  Participants stressed the need to integrate 
internal and external security strategies in order to 
confront terrorism and other complex non-traditional threats 
from both inside and outside the European Union.  In a trend 
toward further European integration that the new Reform 
Treaty will intensify, a French government speaker announced 
that France intends to introduce a new European Security 
Strategy during its 2008 presidency.  JHA Commissioner 
Frattini highlighted a recurring theme in emphasizing the 
need for a coherent, European approach that brings together 
disparate responses to the threats of terrorism, organized 
crime, weapons of mass destruction, regional conflicts, 
failed states, and illegal migration.  Experts also noted 
that the new Reform Treaty will break down many barriers to 
integrating internal and external security strategies and 
provide a stronger political process for developing a 
unified, coherent approach.  Although the U.S. was cited as 
an indispensable partner in European efforts to address 
global security threats, all signs point towards more 
pressure for EU-based integration of Europe's security 
architecture as the  Reform Treaty is implemented.  End 
summary 
 
--------------- 
Keynote Address 
--------------- 
 
¶2.  (SBU)  Over three hundred people attended a Brussels 
conference on "Defining a European Security Strategy," 
October 18.  The annual conference was hosted by the Security 
and Defense Agenda, a prominent Brussels-based forum for 
examination of NATO-EU, and defense industry issues. 
Representatives of many major U.S. companies attended the 
seminar.  European Commissioner for Justice, Freedom, and 
Security, Franco Frattini delivered the keynote address. 
Frattini identified terrorism, weapons of mass destruction, 
regional conflicts, state failure, and organized crime as the 
key threats facing the citizens of the EU.  Frattini pressed 
hard on the need to create a coherent approach to these 
multi-faceted threats, while preserving basic rights. 
Commissioner Frattini called for a broader security strategy 
that recognizes the interdependence between internal and 
external responses. 
 
¶3. (SBU)  The Commissioner argued that the U.S. and the EU 
have the same goals, and called for close cooperation on 
these threats.  The Commissioner cited Afghanistan and the 
Balkans as key theaters where U.S. - EU cooperation was 
critical in tackling organized crime and instability before 
they became internal security threats to our citizens. 
Frattini announced that he would adopt an "ambitious" 
counter-terrorism package in November that will cover actions 
to be taken "in solidarity" at the European level.  He called 
for the EU's Member States to create new capabilities that 
could be employed at the European level.  U.S. Ambassador to 
the EU C. Boyden Gray, speaking as a member of the expert 
panel, pointed out that without the necessary resources and 
political will, no security strategy will be able to deliver 
results. 
 
-------------------------------------------- 
New Capabilities for Non-Traditional Threats 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
¶4. (SBU)  The recurring themes throughout the conference were 
the need to look across the range of security threats -- 
including terrorism, illegal migration, energy dependence, 
critical infrastructure, failed states, climate change, and 
organized crime, and to take effective action at the 
"European level."  Commissioner Frattini cited the European 
Arrest Warrant, Europol, Eurojust, and Frontex, as examples 
of evolving European responses to cross-border problems of 
terrorism, uncontrolled migration, and organized crime.  The 
establishment of these European-level institutions is a 
reflection of the fact that while few of the identified 
threats are military in nature, there is a need to develop 
the new combination of cross-border capabilities necessary to 
respond to these non-traditional threats.  The need to act 
outside the borders of the EU in order to counter or 
forestall internal threats was another major theme. 
 
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New Security Strategy in 2008 
 
BRUSSELS 00003249  002 OF 002 
 
 
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¶5. (SBU)  French Ambassador to the Political and Security 
Committee (PSC) Christine Roger noted that the current 
European Security Strategy was adopted in 2003.  This 
strategy was designed to respond to external threats, but it 
also called for greater integration between internal and 
external security strategies to address counter-terrorism and 
organized crime.  She pointed to the significant progress 
made within the EU since ESDP's inception in 1998, citing the 
creation of the Political and Security Committee, the 
Military Committee, the Military Staff, the Situation Center, 
and the European Defense Agency.  She noted that the EU has 
deployed 17 missions on three continents, although many 
deficiencies remain.  These shortfalls in communications, 
intelligence, and transportation are being addressed in order 
to increase the mobility of forces.  France will present a 
national White Paper on Defense in March 2008, and plans to 
introduce a new EU security strategy during its Presidency in 
the second half of 2008.  Roger said that internal papers 
have been written on the need to integrate the three pillars 
of EU competencies so that the Commission's power to regulate 
and act in internal justice and home affairs can reinforce 
the Member States' efforts in external security.  The 
newly-negotiated Reform Treaty "Treaty of Lisbon") will 
create a single figure who will have the authority to bring 
together these roles in a coherent strategy. 
 
¶6. (SBU)  Comment:  While the conference produced more 
questions than answers, the discussion clearly reflected 
calls for a greater role for Brussels in establishing and 
integrating external and internal security policy across 
Europe.  Nearly every speaker, whether representing industry, 
a national government, or independent think tank, called for 
greater action at "the European level" in order to build new 
capabilities to confront these complex cross-border threats. 
 Legislation, research and development, rationalization of 
industry and markets, strategic policy development, and 
cooperation with major partners will increasingly be driven 
from Brussels.  This trend will intensify as the new reform 
treaty is put into effect, giving High Representative Solana, 
or his successor, greater influence and resources with which 
to identify and pursue European Union policy objectives.  End 
Comment. 
 
GRAY 
.