VZCZCXRO2488
RR RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHNP RUEHPW RUEHROV RUEHSL RUEHSR
DE RUEHSM #0574/01 2531243
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 101243Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4700
INFO RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE
RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 STOCKHOLM 000574 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/09/2019 
TAGS: PINR PREL TU SW
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES ENLARGEMENT, AFGHANISTAN WITH 
EU MINISTER CECILIA MALMSTROM 
 
Classified By: Amb. Matthew Barzun for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D). 
 
¶1. (C) Summary. In the Ambassador's introductory call on the 
Minister for EU Affairs, Cecilia Malmstrom, the minister 
expressed Sweden's eagerness to work together with the United 
States on climate issues and in Afghanistan. She cautiously 
said the Swedish EU presidency so far was going "okay" and 
updated the Ambassador on the EU enlargement process. She 
noted that: 
 
--Swedish casualties in Afghanistan could lead to a national 
debate about Swedish involvement, though "basic support" for 
such exists; 
 
--On Turkey's EU accession, the Ankara Protocol is unlikely 
to be signed this fall, but there is still hope that the 
environment chapter might be opened; 
 
--Serbia's EU application may be made by the end of the year, 
while Albania has been making good progress toward meeting EU 
standards and its membership application will probably be 
forwarded to the EU Commission in October; 
 
--The "childish" bilateral dispute between Slovenia and 
Croatia shows signs of nearing resolution, but the 
FYROM-Greek name dispute does not. 
 
End Summary. 
 
Climate Change 
-------------- 
 
¶2. (C) Underscoring the strong cultural ties between the two 
countries, Malmstrom clearly voiced the willingness of the 
Government of Sweden to cooperate with the United States. 
Notwithstanding the important domestic issues facing 
President Obama, she entreated Washington to remain engaged 
in climate change negotiations.  Malmstrom estimated that a 
global agreement would not be reached at the Copenhagen 
summit; some, such as India is "not even a little interested" 
in the climate issue, she remarked.  Malmstrom is working, as 
EU president, to preserve a united EU negotiating stance, and 
said the Commission would shortly propose funding for climate 
change measures.  She said she hoped that with robust 
international engagement the "contours" of an agreement could 
still be hammered out at COP-15. 
 
Afghanistan 
----------- 
 
¶3. (C) Malmstrom noted that Sweden would be increasing the 
number of its troops in Afghanistan. Although she noted that 
the death of a Swede there would lead to a national debate 
about involvement, she averred that the "basic support" was 
there, and that the government was very committed to the 
mission. 
 
EU Enlargement 
-------------- 
 
¶4. (C) The Minister thanked Washington for its support of EU 
enlargement and Turkish EU membership.  She remained 
optimistic that the environmental chapter of Turkey's 
accession negotiations could be opened this fall, but did not 
anticipate that the Ankara Protocol would be signed, and 
therefore additional chapters, such as the one on energy, 
would remain blocked.  Cyprus must take action before the 
Protocol can be signed, Malmstrom explained. She was 
optimistic that progress could move forward during the 
January-June 2010 Spanish EU President, as Spain supports 
Turkish EU membership and Spanish President Zapatero and 
Turkish PM Erdogan are friends.  At the same time, she said 
Turkey could speed up internal reforms in order to make 
progress on accession.  Although she said that Stockholm has 
a "very open" relationship with Turkey, Malmstrom suggested 
that pressure from Washington could move things along. "It is 
they who are applying, after all." 
 
Western Balkans 
--------------- 
 
¶5. (C) Malmstrom, who had just met with Serbian FM Jeremic, 
judged that Belgrade may hand in an application to the EU by 
the end of the year.  Albania has been making good progress 
toward meeting EU standards, and its membership application 
will probably be forwarded to the EU Commission in October. 
The "childish" bilateral dispute between Slovenia and Croatia 
shows signs of nearing resolution now that the two have begun 
direct talks with one another.  The FYROM-Greek name dispute 
has more serious consequences, for without a clear path to 
the EU, FYROM is unlikely to make other important reforms and 
 
STOCKHOLM 00000574  002 OF 002 
 
 
its internal stability could be threatened.  Malmstrom 
expressed her hope that the Lisbon Treaty would soon be 
approved, otherwise enlargement would be much more difficult. 
 
Bio Note 
-------- 
 
¶6. (U) Malmstrom expressed her pleasure at having been able 
to attend the 2008 Democratic Convention in Denver together 
with Environment Minister Andreas Carlgren.  She and her 
husband, who is Norwegian by birth, live in Goteborg with 
their twins, a boy and a girl born in 2003. 
BARZUN