VZCZCXRO1551
RR RUEHAST
DE RUEHPG #0674 1671356
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 161356Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY PRAGUE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7511
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC

UNCLAS PRAGUE 000674 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EUR/NCE ERIC FICHTE, EB/TPP/BTA/EWH 
STATE PLEASE PASS USTR LISA ERRION 
COMMERCE FOR ITA/MAC/EUR MIKE ROGERS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ETRD BEXP SENV EUN EZ
SUBJECT: RESPONSE FROM CZECH REPUBLIC ON REACH: IT IS TOO 
LATE 
 
REF: A. USDOC 02311 
 
     ¶B. 05 PRAGUE 01561 
 
¶1. SUMMARY: The Czech government was receptive to USG 
concerns on the pending EU Chemicals Directive (REACH), but 
indicated that changes are not likely as it is now a choice 
between the Council,s and the Parliament,s versions. Given 
the history of GOCR active engagement and pragmatism on REACH 
(ref B), we believe the Czech assessment to be credible and 
noteworthy. END SUMMARY 
 
¶2. Econoff met with Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director of 
Internal Market and Related Policy Tomas Buril and his deputy 
Jarmila Grigelova to deliver ref A demarche on draft EU REACH 
regulation. In general, Mr. Buril and Ms. Grigelova shared 
our concerns about the potential costs and burdens both 
versions of REACH would impose on the chemical industry. 
However, they noted that the draft law, covering more than 
30,000 different chemicals produced or imported into the 
Union in quantities of one ton a year or more, is not likely 
to be watered down or changed. In response to ref A point to 
remove activated monomers from the list of registered 
substances, Buril doubted that this would be possible, noting 
that monomer registration was included in the initial common 
position of the Council and first reading version of the 
Parliament. Buril further noted that a large concession was 
already made when it was decided to leave polymers outside 
the scope of the draft. 
 
¶3. Buril explained that the MFA was playing the referee role 
between the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Ministry 
of the Environment, noting that although the latter is the 
lead negotiator for the GOCR, the pressure of industry, 
especially that of small and medium sized businesses, has 
outweighed the worries of environmental advocates in the 
Czech Republic. Buril believes that any lingering problems 
with the legislation could be resolved through future 
amendments or administrative adjustments in implementation. 
 
Finish with Finnish 
 
¶4. Econoff also met with the Ministry of the Environment 
Director of Environmental Risk and lead GOCR negotiator on 
REACH Karel Blaha. Mr. Blaha said that after 5 years of 
lengthy debate and consultations regarding REACH among 
members of the Council, it was too late for changes and 
adjustments. He said that in all likelihood, the current 
REACH political agreement would move forward to the Council 
for formal approval and ratification. He mentioned that it 
was theoretically possible that one or two Member States, for 
example Ireland and Poland or Denmark and Sweden, could 
"torpedo" REACH, but is not expected. 
 
¶5. Mr Blaha explained that REACH is now a choice between two 
draft bills, the Parliament,s version and the Council,s. He 
said that chances were slim that Qualified Majority Voting 
amendments would be added to the Council,s version. He said 
that no one wants REACH negotiations to go into "conciliation 
talks" between the Council, Parliament, and Commission. 
Finland has suggested that it wants to conclude REACH during 
its upcoming EU Presidency. The Finns have been encouraging 
Parliamentarians, such as Mr. Hartmut Nausser from Germany, 
to work with the Council before they adopt a version and 
deliver it to the Parliament for a second reading. Industry 
groups, long opposed to any regulation that would increase 
financial burdens and bureaucracy, also desire final 
legislation. Failure to reach consensus on REACH would start 
both the negotiation and political processes again, and 
industry fears a more robust anti-business bill as a result. 
DODMAN