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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 000048 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SENV EIND PREL KGHG EU
SUBJECT: EU: COPENHAGEN DISAPPOINTING BUT GOOD STEP 
 
This cable is sensitive, but unclassified.  Please protect 
accordingly. 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary and Introduction:  After the leaders 
departed Copenhagen, initial commentary was not positive, the 
prevailing theme being the inability of EU leadership to 
deliver.  Initial press reports highlighted the 
marginalization of EU officials, but soon began to focus on 
China's unconstructive role.  Business organizations decried 
the failure of EU leaders to secure firm commitments from 
other major economies.  Following the summit, a senior EU 
official acknowledged that Europe's leaders were somewhat 
despondent about the manner in which the process unfolded ) 
they would have preferred to have been in "the meeting" and 
were "disappointed," to say the least, with the unambitious 
outcome.  The knee-jerk reaction was to suggest the EU 
consider an independent position and distance itself from the 
U.S.  EU officials have indicated that this is not an option, 
but they are looking for ways to reassert European leadership 
in the process.  End summary. 
 
 
In A Word: &Disappointment8 
--------------------------- 
¶2. (SBU) A high-ranking Commission officials termed 
Copenhagen a "disappointment,"  but said it was nevertheless 
a "step forward."  Artur Runge-Metzger, one of the EU's 
negotiators, also described the outcome as "disappointing" 
but said Copenhagen is a big step beyond L'Aquila.  He noted 
in particular the two degree objective and the commitments 
from the major economies, as well as the agreement on MRV. 
He added that the financial framework reflects the 
Commission's September 2009 proposal.  Runge-Metzger 
expressed appreciation for the U.S. "movement" during the 
talks ) which he described as one of the positives 
associated with the Accord. (Note:  He also mentioned it was 
good for the leaders to experience what the negotiators have 
had to endure.  End note.)  Jo Leinen, chairman of the 
European Parliament's environment committee echoed his 
"disappointment" and said European expectations were too 
high.  He is worried that the current commitments are not 
consistent with the two-degree objective.  The Commission 
plans to analyze the international commitments to determine 
how the Accord would impact the two-degree objective. 
 
Level Playing Field 
------------------- 
¶3. (SBU) The initial reaction of the business community was 
more pointed.  Business Europe ) an association of 20 
million European companies ) issued a statement regretting 
"that our major economic partners only repeated their limited 
mitigation commitments" and that the "Accord has not 
brightened the prospect for a global level-playing field." 
It continued that European companies have to pay for their 
emissions and remain exposed to carbon leakage.  However, a 
representative of the Transatlantic Business Dialogue noted 
with some surprise that many European companies have not been 
critical of the outcome.  He said businesses a predictability and the roso is plans to combine climate, 
energy and industry policies to ensure a level playing field. 
 
BRUSSELS 00000048  002 OF 002 
 
 
 
Leadership/Cooperation/One Voice 
-------------------------------- 
¶4. (SBU) EU officials want to maintain a leadership role. 
European Council President Hermann Van Rompuy declared 
climate change to be one of the EU's top two priorities (the 
other is the economic crisis) and said "the EU must continue 
to be a driving force in this field."  He is convening a 
special meeting of the EU's leaders on February 11 to 
"discuss the strategic consequences arising out of the 
actions of the various key players at Copenhagen."   Climate 
Action Commissioner designee Connie Hedegaard testified 
before the European Parliament on January 15 that the EU must 
maintain its leadership in the international negotiations. 
However, she warned that the EU risks losing its leadership 
role if it cannot speak with one voice.  Nonetheless, EU 
officials are not seeking to stake-out an independent 
position.  A high-ranking official told the Ambassador that 
the U.S. and EU need to develop a "credible approach to the 
developing world," adding "we cannot let a non-democracy lead 
the third world."  (Note:  One EU commentator has suggested 
increased engagement with India due its parallels with the EU 
as a large, multicultural democracy.  End Note.) 
 
¶5. (U) Despite calls by Spanish officials to abandon the UN 
process, Commission officials remain committed for now. 
Connie Hedegaard told Parliamentarians that she is committed 
to the UN process, despite the difficulties, because it is 
necessary to have a global agreement.  Jos Delbeke, Deputy 
Director General for Environment, said the EU was not seeking 
to remove negotiations from the UN but said the process needs 
to be reformed. 
 
¶6. (SBU) Comment: Climate change has come to represent a 
raison d'etre for EU external policy.  The absence of EU 
leaders from the decisive negotiations on the Copenhagen 
Accord has raised questions about Europe's status in the "new 
world order."  The EU appears committed to working with the 
U.S., and it is in our interests to do so.  By continuing to 
engage European leaders on climate change, they will win 
points with their constituents, while we sustain a common 
approach towards emerging economies and strengthen the 
Transatlantic Partnership. 
Kennard 
.