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RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDF RUEHHM RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHMA
RUEHPB RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHTM RUEHTRO
DE RUEHBS #0193 0421103
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 111103Z FEB 09 ZDK
FM USEU BRUSSELS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC
INFO RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE
RUCNMUC/EU CANDIDATE STATES COLLECTIVE
RUCNMEU/EU INTEREST COLLECTIVE
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS BRUSSELS 000193 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
OES FOR SPECIAL ENVOY TODD STERN 
OES FOR OES/EGC 
EUR FOR EUR/ERA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON EIND ENRG EUN EWWT KGHG SENV TPHY TRGY
TSPL 
SUBJECT: EU ENVIRONMENT COMMISSIONER EAGER TO ENHANCE 
COOPERATION 
 
¶1. (SBU) The Charge d'Affaires met with EU Environment 
Commissioner Stavros Dimas on February 9.  Dimas said that he 
looks forward to working with President Obama's climate team 
toward an international agreement.  He realizes that "the 
transition will take a bit more time" and does not 
underestimate the difficulties, but he is optimistic about 
the prospects for Copenhagen.  He welcomed the President's 
long-term target of 80 percent emission reductions by 2050 
noting "it is the same as the EU's; mid-term targets can be 
discussed." 
 
¶2. (SBU) "If we work together" he said, "we can bring China 
and India on board."  China's participation will be necessary 
for an effective international agreement.  Dimas participated 
in a meeting with China's Premier Wen Jiabao and met 
separately with NDRC Chairmen Zhang Ping on January 31 during 
their visit to Brussels.  Dimas reported that China continues 
to emphasize that the focus should be on per capita and not 
overall emissions.  The Chinese officials also stressed that 
the one child policy has also minimized greenhouse gas 
emissions.  Dimas said China will be diffcult, but added 
Russia will be more difficult.  (Note: Dimas was part of a 
delegation of Commissioners that visited Russia on February 6 
for high-level talks.  End note.)  Citing the President, he 
said "we have to listen to them, engage them and stress that 
it is their planet too," but to get them to commit 
themselves, "financing will be necessary." 
 
¶3. (SBU) The Charge identified three priorities that we hear 
from the Europeans with regard to the Transatlantic 
relationship: the Middle East peace process, climate 
change/energy security, and free trade.  He said that the 
President has spoken out consistently, since the campaign and 
afterward, about the importance of climate change and the 
environment.  He has appointed a distinguished team of 
leaders in these areas.  The Charge suggested that Dimas' 
experience during the difficult negotiations on the EU's 
Climate and Energy legislation may be useful for U.S. policy 
makers who may want to examine prospects for cap and trade 
legislation.  He encouraged Dimas to meet with his 
counterparts, but suggested the time may not be ripe now, as 
the new administration is still settling in.   Given Dimas' 
recent meetings with senior Chinese officials, the Charge 
noted that a phone call to the Special Envoy for Climate 
Change might be useful for both sides. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Dimas welcomed the Charge's suggestions.  He said he 
will be available to visit Washington once the new team has 
settled in.  He looks forward to meeting with his 
counterparts to discuss how we can "advance our mutual 
objectives." 
MURRAY 
.