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FM USEU BRUSSELS
TO RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEFHLC/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA PRIORITY
RUEHFN/AMEMBASSY FREETOWN PRIORITY
RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 08 BRUSSELS 000218 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR INL, S/CT, CA, INL/PC, INL/AAE, EUR/ERA, L/LEI; 
JUSTICE FOR CRIMINAL DIVISION, OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL 
AFFAIRS; 
HOMELAND SECURITY FOR OFFICE OF POLICY, OFFICE OF 
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2019 
TAGS: KCRM PGOV PREL SNAR EUM CZ
SUBJECT: DISCUSSIONS AT U.S.-EU JUSTICE AND HOME AFFAIRS 
INFORMAL MEETING DEMONSTRATE BROAD CONVERGENCE ON SECURITY 
AND CRIME ISSUES 
 
Classified By: COUNSELOR FOR INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS AND 
LAW ENFORCEMENT AFFAIRS JAMES MCANULTY FOR 1.4 B AND D 
 
¶1. (U) This is an action request telegram; please see 
paragraph 29. 
 
------- 
SUMMARY 
------- 
 
¶2. (C) Participants at the U.S.-European Union (EU) Justice 
and Home Affairs (JHA) Informal Meeting in Prague February 5 
to 6, 2009, engaged in a wide-ranging discussion of 
cooperation against terrorism and transnational crime.  Both 
sides agreed on most objectives, including the need to 
complete ratification of the U.S.-EU Mutual Legal Assistance 
and Extradition Agreements, address drug trafficking in 
Afghanistan and West Africa, consult more regularly on 
technical assistance and training programs, and investigate 
and prosecute child exploitation.  EU officials pledged to 
press three remaining Member States -- Belgium, Greece, and 
Italy -- to ratify the mutual legal assistance and 
extradition agreements.  Although reluctant to commit to a 
proposed HLCG work schedule, the Czech Presidency of the 
Council of the EU agreed to schedule a digital video 
conference (DVC) before April's JHA Ministerial meeting.  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
------------ 
PARTICIPANTS 
------------ 
 
¶3. (U) The U.S. Delegation. co-chaired by INL Deputy 
Assistant Secretary (DAS) Elizabeth Verville and Deputy 
Assistant Attorney General Bruce Swartz, included State 
Department Counter-Terrorism Deputy Coordinator for Homeland 
Security Susan Burk, Mission Senior Justice Counselor for the 
EU and International Criminal Law Affairs Mary Lee Warren, 
INL Counselor James McAnulty, Senior Consular Representative 
Paul Fitzgerald, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) 
Attache Jackie Bednarz, State Law Enforcement and 
Intelligence Attorney-Adviser Kenneth Propp, Justice Office 
of International Affairs Multilateral Matters Associate 
Director Thomas Burrows, DHS International Affairs Director 
Michael Scardaville, INL Policy Coordination and Planning 
Foreign Affairs Officer Scott Harris, European Union and 
Regional Affairs Foreign Affairs Officer Alessandro Nardi, 
Embassy Political-Economic Officer James Connell, 
Political-Economic Officer Amy Carnie, and Consular Officer 
Scott Riedmann.  The EU Delegation, co-chaired by Czech 
Interior Ministry Presidency and EU Coordination Department 
Head Katerina Flaigova and Czech Justice Ministry 
International Law Director Jan Samanek, included EU 
Counter-Terrorism Coordinator Gilles de Kerchove, Council 
Secretariat JHA Deputy Director-General Rafael 
Fernandez-Pita, European Commission Justice, Freedom, and 
Security Director Tung-Lai Margue, European Police Office 
(EUROPOL) Director Max-Peter Ratzel, European Judicial 
Coordination Unit (EUROJUST) Vice President Malci 
Gabrijelcic, Czech Interior Ministry Officials Jitka 
Gjuricova, Tomas Haisman, and Martin Linhart, JHA Head of 
Unit Petr Solsky of the Czech Permanent Representation to the 
EU, European Border Management Agency (FRONTEX) External 
Relations Officer Rick Weijermans, Council Secretariat JHA 
Principal Administrator Wouter Van de Rijt, Commission 
External Relations and Enlargement Deputy Head of Unit Heike 
Buss, Commission Desk Officer for U.S. and Canada Nora Rolle, 
Swedish officials Tora Wigstrand. Paula Wennerblom, Roger 
Gustafsson. and Emanuel Allroth, and other officers from the 
Czech Ministries of Interior and Justice and the Czech 
Permanent Representation to the EU. 
 
-------------- 
JHA PRIORITIES 
-------------- 
 
¶4. (U) Flaigova and Samanek briefly outlined Czech Presidency 
priorities, including use of technologies for promoting 
security, maintaining balance between security and civil 
 
BRUSSELS 00000218  002 OF 008 
 
 
rights, fighting drug trafficking and diversion of precursor 
chemicals, combating child exploitation and illicit content 
on the Internet, and promoting cooperation on civil law 
matters.  With the caveat that it was too early in the new 
U.S. Administration to offer any specifics, Verville and 
Swartz noted considerable overlap between the delegations' 
U.S. and Czech Presidency priorities.  They reiterated U.S. 
interest in thwarting terrorist attacks, promoting rule of 
law, fighting drug trafficking in Afghanistan and West 
Africa, ratifying the U.S.-EU Mutual Legal Assistance and 
Extradition Agreements, completing HLCG work on data privacy 
principles, coordinating technical assistance, fighting 
organized crime in the Western Balkans, and closing 
Guantanamo Bay detention facilities. 
 
------------------------ 
HIGH LEVEL CONTACT GROUP 
------------------------ 
 
¶5. (C) The U.S. underlined the importance of completing the 
vital work of the HLCG in preparing for a binding 
international agreement on data privacy principles governing 
the transatlantic sharing of law enforcement information. 
Swartz proposed an energetic agenda of meetings and digital 
video conferences (DVCs) to complete the few remaining issue 
discussions and begin work on the foundation, framework, and 
objectives for negotiation of a binding international 
agreement.  Flaigova commended the "great progress" achieved 
to date, but said a binding agreement could not be negotiated 
until the Lisbon Treaty entered into force. (N.B., The treaty 
faces a second referendum in Ireland later this year after 
suffering a "no" vote last June; also, the Czech Republic and 
Germany have yet to complete their ratification process). 
Warning that premature activities could risk results already 
achieved, she suggested keeping discussions at the "experts" 
level.  Although Commission Director Margue said he agreed 
with continuing technical meetings "as far as possible," he 
characterized the proposed schedule as optimistic.  He 
envisioned the Irish holding their second referendum in 
October, to be followed by entry into force of the treaty on 
January 1, 2010.  He stated that any further discussion 
should be deferred until that time.  Swartz underscored the 
importance of laying a "foundation" for moving quickly 
towards a formal agreement.  Warren warned that a lapse in 
discussions could lead to repeat discussions of settled 
issues and interruption of law enforcement sharing under the 
EU Framework Decision on Data Protection.  Verville stressed 
the importance of both sides proceeding towards final 
agreement.  Margue declared that the Framework Decision would 
have little immediate impact, as Member States would take a 
full two years to implement it.  Warren declined to comment 
on Member States' pace but rather focused on the possible 
harm that could be suffered if vigorous sharing of law 
enforcement information were impaired by the uncertainly of 
such a hiatus.  Saying she understood all these factors, 
Flaigova expressed hope for reaching "middle" ground and, 
near the close of the meeting, agreed on scheduling one DVC 
HLCG experts meeting before the late April Ministerial. 
 
¶6. (C) COMMENT:  It became clear, during and on the margins 
of the meeting, that the pace of the HLCG experts' work was 
not a unanimously held position within the EU delegation. 
Generally, the Commission intended to hold off further 
discussions, and the Presidency was not prepared to take on 
the necessary leadership tasks.  On the other hand, Council 
representatives pressed for the HLCG to finish its work and 
planned to work behind-the-scenes to this end.  The U.S. 
delegation considered the fiat for delay a predictable but 
substantial set-back in a priority area that has implications 
for slowing progress on several other issues.  END COMMENT. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
MUTUAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE AND EXTRADITION AGREEMENTS 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
 
¶7. (C) Propp reported that the United States had completed 
its ratification procedures for the U.S.-EU Mutual Legal 
Assistance and Extradition Agreements and inquired about EU 
 
BRUSSELS 00000218  003 OF 008 
 
 
progress.  Samanek reported that Italy and Greece had just 
submitted the agreements to their parliaments, and Belgium 
planned to do so shortly.  The Council Secretariat planned to 
raise the issue again at the Article 36 Committee Meeting in 
February.  Propp advocated applying pressure at more senior 
levels, noting that U.S. Ambassadors had already approached 
Foreign Ministers and Parliamentary leaders.  Verville 
observed that final ratification would be a "huge 
achievement."  Samanek said he understood the urgency, given 
the need to ratify them before entry into force of the Lisbon 
Treaty.   De Kerchove said he raised this issue at the JHA 
Council in November and followed up with the Greek Foreign 
Minister and Belgian Parliament.  He wrote to Italian Foreign 
Minister Franco Frattini, but had not yet received a reply. 
Margue said JHA Commissioner Jacques Barrot would apply 
pressure to the three remaining Member States.  Propp noted 
that the exchange of designation points required by the new 
agreements was proceeding in a "rolling" fashion and would 
not be a cause for delay of the final entry into force. 
 
 
¶8. (U) Warren briefed on the mutual legal assistance seminar 
for practitioners sponsored by the U.S., EUROJUST, and the 
Commission at The Hague last November.  She observed that the 
agreements contain many innovative tools that investigators 
and judges will find useful in fighting transnational crime 
and terrorism.  The EU-EUROJUST-U.S. organizers will explore 
an array of follow-on seminars and workshops and prepare an 
implementation manual.  Samanek, who heard "extremely 
positive" reports, suggested distributing materials more 
widely.  Margue echoed the positive reports and signaled that 
the Commission would find the funds to support follow-on 
efforts. 
 
------------------------- 
LOST AND STOLEN PASSPORTS 
------------------------- 
 
¶9. (C) Margue summarized the Commission's review of Member 
State implementation of the EU Common Position on reporting 
stolen and lost passports through the International Criminal 
Police Organization (INTERPOL).  EU Member States had 
submitted over two-thirds of INTERPOL's entries and made over 
half the queries to its database.  Scardaville said DHS had 
deployed an automated system to all international U.S. 
airports and seaports and would soon expand it to land border 
stations.  Customs and Border Protection (CBP) inspectors now 
check 3 to 3.5 million records monthly and are "thrilled" 
with the program, including EU compliance with INTERPOL Best 
Practices and the EU Common Position.  At Bednarz's request, 
Margue agreed to look into making the source data of the 
Commission's evaluation report available. 
 
------------------------------------ 
COORDINATION ON TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶10. (U) Verville advocated more frequent coordination on 
technical assistance where both sides have "compatible" 
interests.  She expressed appreciation for fact sheets 
exchanged last July on the Western Balkans, noting that most 
programs appeared free of conflicts.  She suggested more 
systematic exchanges of information among those planning and 
managing technical assistance programs.  Meetings of U.S. and 
EU experts in Washington and Brussels would be helpful. 
Margue agreed.  Swartz advocated joint meetings of Commission 
and U.S. Liaison Officers in the region and Margue concurred, 
noting that a first meeting could occur on a trial or ad hoc 
basis and should have a specific, focused agenda.  De 
Kerchove added that such meetings should also include Member 
State Liaison Officers. 
 
¶11. (C) Verville expressed concern over rising crime in 
Croatia and noted that the U.S. had recently extended by one 
year its organized crime program there.  Margue agreed with 
this assessment of Croatia, which remained engaged in the EU 
enlargement process.  He welcomed applying pressure on 
Croatia in areas that need improvement, including a more 
independent judiciary and measures against organized crime 
 
BRUSSELS 00000218  004 OF 008 
 
 
and corruption.  The EU wanted to avoid mistakes from past 
instances of EU enlargement.  Overall, he advocated a more 
regional approach and welcomed feedback on effective programs 
and exchanges of best practices.  (COMMENT:  Coordinated 
strategic planning marks an important step forward, 
especially in resource-scarce times.  END COMMENT.) 
 
¶12. (C) Swartz praised the operational activities of the 
South East European Cooperation Initiative (SECI) Center in 
fighting organized crime in the Balkans.  Ratzel said the 
Council had prepared a "road map" for finishing a South East 
European Law Enforcement Center (SELEC) Convention, which 
needed to include data protection commitments.  Verville 
cautioned that upgrading SECI's charter must not hinder 
ongoing cooperation among members.  (COMMENT:  The following 
week, Warren, McAnulty, and Resident Legal Advisor Justin 
Weddle met with EUROPOL officials in Brussels to discuss 
SECI's future.  EUROPOL interlocutors agreed to explore the 
idea of assigning a liaison officer at SECI as part of a 
pilot project.  END COMMENT.) 
 
¶13. (C) Verville said the U.S. remained concerned over 
potential instability in West Africa, citing the attempted 
coup in Guinea Bissau as an example.  Flaigova said organized 
crime, corruption, and the flow of cocaine through the region 
presented serious challenges to the entire EU.  Margue noted 
that the Commission supported the Regional Action Plan agreed 
in Praia last October.  As a result of Member State 
cooperation with the Maritime Analysis and Operations Center 
(MAOC), authorities had seized 34 metric tons of cocaine and 
21 metric tons of hashish since June 2007.  He praised 
cooperation by Joint Interagency Task Force -- South 
(JIATF-South) in contributing to such successes.  Warren 
commended efforts of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration 
(DEA) in sharing information and promoting best practices 
with police commissioners and mid-level police officers in 
the region.  Verville noted INL efforts to promote 
capacity-building in various countries, including Nigeria and 
Liberia, to fight money laundering, effect asset seizures, 
and prepare mutual legal assistance requests.  Remarking on 
earlier, "very close" cooperation by INL officials with the 
Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) and the Economic and 
Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) in Nigeria, she lamented 
recent personnel changes that "decimated" these institutions. 
 Commission representatives, for their part, agreed to look 
into and monitor this situation more closely. 
 
----------- 
AFGHANISTAN 
----------- 
 
¶14. (C) Verville observed that addressing the drug trade in 
Afghanistan would be a major priority of the new 
Administration.  According to the latest UN estimates, poppy 
and opium production had declined during the past year. 
Cultivation now occurred overwhelmingly in seven, 
high-producing provinces in the south, which will become the 
focus of counter-drug efforts.  According to Flaigova, the EU 
and Member States spent 428 million euros in Afghanitan 
during 2006.  They viewed Afghanistan as a "long-term, 
large-scale problem" with no easy solutions.  Margue added 
that a major challenge would be to sustain progress in the 
northern and eastern provinces.  The EU planned to focus on 
the east, particularly on alternative livelihoods and 
regional development.  Verville suggested greater support for 
performance-based, development programs, including the Good 
Performers Initiative. 
 
-------------- 
UN CONVENTIONS 
-------------- 
 
¶15. (U) Verville reviewed recent developments in 
implementation of United Nation conventions against 
corruption and organized crime.   The Fourth Conference of 
Parties last October "breathed life" into these instruments, 
resulting in a doubling of action-oriented decisions.  The UN 
Office of Drugs and Crime is working on model legislation for 
the migrant smuggling protocol.  During its Presidency of the 
 
BRUSSELS 00000218  005 OF 008 
 
 
Group of Eight, Italy planned to focus on implementation of 
the Palermo convention on organized crime.  Verville 
commended self-assessment checklists on implementation as 
containing valuable information for donor countries to 
consult. 
 
¶16. (C) Flaigova pressed on behalf of EU colleagues for the 
U.S. to reconsider its position on "harm reduction," noting 
keen EU interest in including this phrase in the political 
declaration of the UN General Assembly Special Session 
(UNGASS) on the UN Drug Convention.  Verville explained that 
the U.S. considered this phrase to be "ambiguous," with some 
associated practices used in the U.S. while others were 
prohibited.  This issue is under review. 
 
---------------- 
CHILD PROTECTION 
---------------- 
 
¶17. (U) The EU side provided an overview of child protection 
efforts, including measures to reduce illicit Internet 
content, improve "Safe for Internet" programs, decrease 
instances of cyber-bullying, and promote self-regulation by 
mobile telephone and social networking companies.  The Czech 
Presidency planned child protection seminars in Prague, from 
March 17 to 18 (criminal law, on April 20 (safer Internet for 
children), and from May 18 to 20 (child alert systems, to 
which U.S. experts would be invited.  The Council Secretariat 
adopted conclusions in December to promote establishment of 
"Child Alert" Systems in the EU.  EU officials would 
appreciate hearing about U.S. experiences in implementing 
analogous "Amber Alert" systems.  The Commission planned to 
revise an existing framework decision to facilitate blocking 
of objectionable Internet sites.  Swartz responded that U.S. 
experts would participate and be willing to share 
experiences, including information on implementation of U.S. 
"blocking laws.  Burrows said the U.S. would focus on 
big-impact cases involving prosecutions of web sites with 
numerous customers and associated payment processors and 
"clubs."   Warren noted ongoing coordination through EUROJUST 
of criminal investigations of international child predator 
rings.  She proposed that the U.S. and EU form an exploratory 
group to consider ways to work together across the broad 
spectrum of child protection topics.  Gabrijelcic and Ratzel 
saw benefit in such a proposal.  Verville offered a fact 
sheet on the full range of U.S. child protection efforts. 
 
------------------ 
INTERNET EXTREMISM 
------------------ 
 
¶18. (U) Linhart detailed successes in stopping the spread of 
extremism and hatred through the Internet as part of EU 
counter-terrorism efforts.  Member States have differing 
legislation, but the EU has attempted to coordinate standard 
approaches.  He lamented that eliminating offensive web sites 
remained difficult, particularly where third countries hosted 
such sites.  Noting potential First Amendment limits, Swartz 
said the U.S. could take down web sites if they provided 
"material support" to terrorists. 
 
--------------------- 
SEMINAR ON EXPLOSIVES 
--------------------- 
 
¶19. (U) Warren and Bednarz briefed on the experts seminar on 
explosives held in Brussels in late 2008.  The EU side 
expressed interest in additional seminars on detecting 
explosives and preventing their use in terrorist attacks. 
 
--------------------------------------- 
PASSENGER NAME RECORDS (PNR) AGREEMENTS 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶20. (C) Flaigova provided an update on EU ratification of the 
U.S-EU Passenger Name Records (PNR) Agreement, noting that 
six Member States had yet to complete their procedures. 
Regarding the Czech Republic, the Senate had approved the 
agreement in 2007, but the House still had the agreement 
 
BRUSSELS 00000218  006 OF 008 
 
 
under consideration.  Margue expressed interest in scheduling 
a joint U.S.-EU review of U.S. PNR implementation in the next 
month or two.  Scardaville, noting the recent arrival of new 
DHS leadership and the need to set parameters for the review 
beforehand, said that a later date, perhaps May or June, 
would be more likely.  Margue also noted that the European 
Airline Association had complained to the Commission about 
continued payment of fees for a "pull" system to transmit 
data, despite implementation of the preferred "push" system. 
Scardaville said technical glitches continued to undermine 
the "push" system.  He promised to press CBP technicians to 
respond more quickly to Amadeus counterparts to resolve 
problems. 
 
¶21. (C) Regarding a proposed EU PNR system, Margue reported 
that a draft Framework Decision remained under consideration 
by the Council since November 2007.  Given continued 
criticism by the European Parliament, he admitted that this 
legislation would not gain approval before the anticipated 
entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty. 
---------------------------------- 
CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶22. (C) Scardaville and Burk described U.S. efforts on 
critical infrastructure protection (CIP).  Of 3,000 critical 
infrastructure items currently listed, U.S. officials have 
identified 300 as priorities.  The National Critical 
Infrastructure Center maintains a web site for consultation 
by officials involved in CIP efforts.  State and Homeland 
Security officials cooperate on sharing best practices and 
organizing emergency response exercises.  The U.S. also 
coordinates with the Group of Eight, North Atlantic Treaty 
Organization (NATO), and the Organization for Security and 
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).  Margue stated Commission 
interest in working with third countries to protect the 
energy and transport sectors.  Bednarz urged EU counterparts 
to consider including cyber-security in their plans. 
 
------------------- 
VISA WAIVER PROGRAM 
------------------- 
 
¶23. (U) Participants described recent developments in the 
U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP).  During 2008, seven 
additional EU Member States, including the Czech Republic, 
qualified for VWP.  DHS officials will soon reply to a 
European Commission letter seeking formal closure of its 
parallel track on VWP.  Scardaville noted that older VWP 
members must comply with new security enhancements required 
by U.S. law, but he did not anticipate problems.  Bednarz 
said the Secretary of Homeland Security must certify 
implementation of a U.S. biometric "exit" system by the end 
of June 2009 to allow continued use of provisions 
facilitating entry of additional nations.  The EU expressed 
satisfaction with progress to date, but cautioned that VWP 
would remain an important issue until all Member States 
become members. 
 
------------------------------------------ 
ELECTRONIC SYSTEM FOR TRAVEL AUTHORIZATION 
------------------------------------------ 
 
¶24. (C) Scardaville indicated that most travelers have 
complied with the requirement to obtain an Electronic System 
for Travel Authorization (ESTA) number before boarding 
aircraft headed for the United States.  DHS officials have 
implemented a flexible system of "enforced compliance" since 
January 12.  Bednarz noted that some 2.5 million travelers 
had applied thus far, with an approval rate above 99.5 
percent.  ESTA has the added advantage of identifying 
potential immigration problems for travelers, thereby 
allowing time to correct them before travel.  EU officials 
confirmed that they did not consider ESTA to be a visa. 
 
----------------------------------- 
BORDER MANAGEMENT -- VIS AND SIS-II 
----------------------------------- 
 
 
BRUSSELS 00000218  007 OF 008 
 
 
25, (C) The EU has encountered problems in implementing the 
Visa Information System (VIS) and the second generation of 
the Schengen Information System (SIS-II).  EU officials 
anticipated progress on VIS by the end of 2009, but SIS-II 
has much greater difficulties.  Margue expressed interest in 
learning from U.S. experiences in implementing the U.S. VISIT 
system, given EU plans to implement an "entry-exit" system 
employing finger print readers.  The U.S. and EU agreed to 
share technical "lessons learned" in implementing biometric 
entry-exit systems. 
 
------------------------------------ 
COOPERATIVE ARRANGEMENT WITH FRONTEX 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶26. (C) According to Margue, the Commission has been working 
with FRONTEX to "fine-tune" a proposed cooperative 
arrangement with the U.S., primarily to incorporate 
appropriate data privacy provisions.  The U.S. questioned the 
need for such provisions, given that FRONTEX does not 
currently handle personal data.  Margue responded that the 
Commission merely sought "technical adjustments" and had no 
differences on policy.  DHS urged that the signing of the 
agreement would be an appropriate deliverable for the JHA 
Ministerial in late April. 
 
--------- 
CIVIL LAW 
--------- 
 
¶27. (C) EU officials outlined their efforts to enhance 
internal cooperation on civil law issues, including 
implementation of international agreements on child 
adduction, child support, and choice of courts.   They 
expressed interest in exchanging best practices and 
coordinating future negotiating positions.  Propp welcomed EU 
support for the Choice of Court and Child Support 
Conventions, noting that the U.S. remained the sole 
signatory, to date, for these agreements.  He promised to 
provide contact information for State's Private International 
Law office, which handles civil law issues.  (COMMENT:  The 
already over-sized JHA agenda had not previously included 
civil law issues, and Verville learned from the Swedish 
delegation that these issues would not be carried over in the 
JHA agenda during the next Presidency.  END COMMENT.) 
 
----------------------------- 
SWEDISH PRESIDENCY PRIORITIES 
----------------------------- 
 
¶28.  (U) Swedish Government representatives described their 
priorities for the upcoming Swedish Presidency, which starts 
July 1.  They listed climate and energy, implementation of a 
Baltic Sea Strategy, EU Enlargement, and JHA Issues as among 
their top priorities.   Under JHA, they planned to prepare 
the Stockholm Program --  a five-year plan of action on JHA 
issues (from 2010 to 2014) to follow up the Hague Program -- 
and focus on child protection, migration, trafficking in 
human beings, and individual rights in criminal proceedings. 
 
----------------------------- 
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FOLLOW UP 
----------------------------- 
 
¶29. (C) Along with a list of numerous follow-up action items 
from the JHA Informal Meeting (forwarded separately), Mission 
recommends the following priority actions to enhance police 
and judicial cooperation with the EU: 
 
-- Convince the EU, particularly the European Commission, to 
complete the vital work of the HLCG to lay the foundation for 
negotiation and signing of a binding international agreement 
on data privacy principles without delay. 
 
-- Press Belgium, Greece, and Italy at the highest levels to 
ratify the U.S.-EU Mutual Legal Assistance and Extradition 
Agreements this year. 
 
-- Develop comprehensive strategies for future engagement 
 
BRUSSELS 00000218  008 OF 008 
 
 
with the EU on law enforcement issues, taking into account 
the differing impacts of EU ratification or rejection of the 
Lisbon Treaty. 
  .  . 
------- 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
¶30. (C) Overall, discussions reflected transatlantic 
consensus on most important security and criminal justice 
issues, including organized crime, drug trafficking, child 
exploitation, migration, and border security.  Czech 
Presidency reluctance to engage in a robust schedule to 
complete HLCG work demonstrated internal EU divisions over 
how to proceed and lack of Czech familiarity with this 
portfolio.  Additional encouragement of the Czechs and 
persuasion of the Commission on this important issue will be 
needed.  END COMMENT. 
 
MURRAY 
.