VZCZCXRO9725
OO RUEHAG RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLZ RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHVI #0559/01 1281259
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 081259Z MAY 09
FM AMEMBASSY VIENNA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2538
RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1246
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1440

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 VIENNA 000559 
 
SIPDIS, SENSITIVE 
 
PASS USTR FOR MCLARKSON 
USDA FOR FAS/OCRA/SNENON, JKOWALSKI; FAS/OSTA/EJONES, EPORTER 
GENEVA FOR USTR 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAGR KGHG SENV ETRD TBIO EUN AU
SUBJECT: Scenesetter for Austrian Agriculture/Environment Minister 
Berlakovich Meetings in Washington 
 
REF: (a) Vienna 312, (b) Vienna 54 and previous 
 
Sensitive but Unclassified - Protect Accordingly. 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY:  Austrian Agriculture/Environment Minister 
Nikolaus Berlakovich will be in Washington on May 13 and has 
requested policy meetings.  Berlakovich supports Austrian farm 
policy priorities favoring small-scale, "organic" agriculture 
-- and opposing biotechnology.  Other priority issues for the 
Austrians are climate change, biofuels, and renewable energy. 
The trip, which will include stops in New York and California, 
is being coordinated by the Austrian Embassy in Washington. 
END SUMMARY. 
 
Visit Background 
- - - - - - - - - 
 
¶2. (U) Austrian Federal Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, 
Environment and Water Management Nikolaus Berlakovich, is 
seeking meetings in Washington May 13 to discuss agriculture, 
climate change, and alternative energy issues.  After his 
meetings in Washington, Berlakovich will proceed to New York 
(for an Austrian wine promotion event) and spend May 15-16 in 
California where the Ministry has requested meetings with 
Governor Schwarzenegger and Secretary for Environmental 
Protection Linda Adams (both meetings are TBC). 
 
¶3. (SBU) Nikolaus Berlakovich has served as Austrian Federal 
Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water 
Management since December 2008.  From 2005 to 2008, he held a 
similar position in the eastern state of Burgenland.  (NOTE: 
full biography faxed to USDA/FAS/OCRA and emailed to EUR/CE). 
 
Agricultural / Biofuels Issues 
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
 
¶4. (SBU) During the visit, we expect Berlakovich to defend 
Austrian farm policy favoring small-scale and sustainable 
agriculture.  Environmental interests and issues play an 
important role in the Austrian agricultural agenda and heavily 
influence positions on issues such as biotechnology.  On the 
European level, Austria advocates common agricultural policies 
-- limiting subsidies for large farms, 
-- linked to environmental goals ("multifunctionality), and 
-- promoting lifestyle concepts such as organic, range fed, 
and alpine farming.  Ministry officials say Berlakovich will 
be prepared to discuss agricultural biotechnology -- a point 
of contention with the USG -- to explain and defend Austria's 
anti-biotech stance within the EU (see below).  Other 
potential topics include renewable energy and biofuels, the 
role of agriculture in climate change, and WTO/Doha. 
 
¶5. (SBU) Austria remains a leading force within the EU 
opposing biotechnology in agriculture (details in ref A). 
Biotech-free zones have been declared in all of Austria's nine 
provinces and the GoA continues to lobby the European 
Commission and other Member States in support of national 
biotech bans.  Even without Austria's outright cultivation 
ban, other federal regulations effectively prevent the 
planting of EU-approved biotech crops.  The GoA welcomed the 
European Commission's inability to effect change and hopes to 
make this a member state responsibility (whatever the 
consequences under the WTO).  The broad spectrum of Austrian 
media and most consumers in Austria (when polled) support the 
long-standing GoA campaign against GM agriculture. 
Nonetheless, our recent biotech outreach activities have shown 
that there are farmers in Austria who seek to understand 
biotechnology and its potential benefits. 
 
¶6. (SBU) The GoA actively promotes the production of 
agricultural crops for biofuels.  Austrian NGOs voice concerns 
on environmental sustainability --  but the GoA remains a core 
supporter of liquid biofuels.  Austria has extensive forest 
cover (47%) and a competitive forest-products industry, and 
significant biomass potential. 
 
¶7. (SBU) In the WTO, Austria backs the EU's non-trade agenda 
on issues such as geographic indicators and animal welfare. 
Austrian agriculture officials have stated that the EU should 
improve its Doha round offer until the USG makes further 
concessions on domestic supports. 
 
Climate / Energy Issues 
- - - - - - - - - - - - 
 
¶8. (SBU) We expect Berlakovich to welcome the new USG 
 
VIENNA 00000559  002 OF 002 
 
 
direction on climate change and renewable energy.  The GoA 
remains a committed supporter of climate action but its 
enthusiasm has waned and leadership has become more realistic 
as Austria falls far short of its Kyoto commitments (the GoA 
committed to an annual target of 69 mtCO2e target over the 
2008-2012 Kyoto period, but emitted 91 mtCO2e in 2007 and has 
no chance to meet that target).  Ref B describes the new 
climate realism, reflected in its lobbying within the EU 
against its mandatory renewables target and in favor of 
generous permit allocations to industry.  Austria's economic 
growth has typically outperformed Germany by about 1% per 
year, so GoA leadership would prefer a flexible approach to 
mitigation rather than draconian cuts (but seldom enunciate 
that position publicly). 
 
¶9. On renewables, Austria has a strong starting position with 
a 25.3% renewable energy share (2007) -- primarily 
hydroelectric at the moment, but with increasing emphasis on 
biomass/biogas, solar/wind, and liquid biofuels.  Austria must 
be aggressive to meet its mandatory target of 34% renewable 
energy by 2020 (as part of the EU's 20/20/20 plan) -- a target 
the GoA fought in Brussels as late as December 2008 but which 
it has since endorsed. 
 
¶10. (U) This cable was coordinated with FAS Berlin. 
 
KILNER