VZCZCXRO8740
RR RUEHIK
DE RUEHBS #1371/01 2861600
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 131600Z OCT 09
FM USEU BRUSSELS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC
INFO RUCNMEU/EU INTEREST COLLECTIVE
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 001371 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
FOR EUR/ERA AND EUR/PRM 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON EPET EUN
SUBJECT: EP: CHARGE PRESENTS THE US PERSPECTIVE TO THE DELEGATION 
FOR RELATIONS WITH THE U.S. 
 
REF: BRUSSELS 1302 AND 1292 
 
BRUSSELS 00001371  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1. (U) SUMMARY.  A large crowd of Members of Parliament (MEPs) and 
staffers attended the Charge's presentation on U.S.-EU relations 
during the September 30th meeting of the European Parliament's 
Delegation for Relations with the U.S.  This was the delegation's 
first meeting of the new session of parliament.  The Charge provided 
a brief overview of U.S. transatlantic priorities and answered 
questions from MEPs on climate change and the road to Copenhagen, 
the scope of the upcoming Transatlantic Economic Council (TEC), the 
Doha Trade Round, missile defense, and visa waiver.  The 
delegation's chairman concluded the session by asking the members to 
consider one resolution to cover both the TEC and the U.S.-EU 
Summit.  END SUMMARY. 
 
CLIMATE CHANGE STILL KING 
--------------------------- 
 
¶2. (U) The Charge, in his opening remarks, stated that cooperation 
with Europe on climate change is essential, and noted that the 
administration is committed to a successful outcome at the UN 
climate negotiations in Copenhagen.  He touted the success of the 
Major Economies Forum, which took place in Washington two weeks 
before, as an important step towards success in Copenhagen. 
Domestically, he highlighted the steps taken in Congress, including 
the passage of the Waxman-Markey climate legislation in the House in 
June and the release of a draft bill by Senators Boxer and Kerry 
that same day.  He noted the bill's provisions are consistent with 
keeping the increase in global temperature to two degrees Celsius or 
less. 
 
¶3. (SBU) As has become commonplace in Brussels, there was a strong 
response from MEPs about the U.S. climate position, commitment, and 
efforts.  MEP Danuta Maria Hubner (EPP, Poland) was particularly 
aggressive, stating that as the EU prepares for Copenhagen, many of 
her colleagues seriously doubt that the United States will take a 
proactive role.  Specifically, she asked if climate change will get 
enough attention and asked what the U.S. target and financial offer 
will be in Copenhagen, and what the United States expects to get 
from Copenhagen.  MEP Corien Worthmann-Kool (EPP, Netherlands) 
followed by expressing pessimism about the U.S. in light of her 
recent trip to Washington as part of her party's delegation.  She 
said she had the sense that there is a major public campaign 
underway against climate legislation in the U.S., and that this 
would make the Senate reluctant to pass a bill. 
 
¶4. (U) The Charge thanked MEP Worthmann-Kool for going to 
Washington, noting it is important to have such legislative 
exchanges.  He said that there had been similar doubts that the 
Waxman-Markey legislation would succeed in the House, but it had 
passed in record time and with the buy-in of a broad range of 
stakeholders.  Waxman-Markey, he explained, covers 85% of the U.S. 
economy, a far-reaching goal.  Additionally, the United States has 
taken unilateral action by devoting $80 billion of the President's 
stimulus package to clean energy investments.  He acknowledged that 
the Senate will need to approve the spending, but many senators, 
including Boxer and Kerry, as well as the administration, remain 
committed.  He added that the United States and the EU can not 
undertake this alone; China and India need to take part. 
 
ENERGY SECURITY AND THE TEC 
----------------------------- 
 
¶5. (U) The Charge also highlighted the importance of European energy 
security for transatlantic relations.  Europe has faced several 
challenges involving Russia, including transit of gas and 
development of new pipelines.  He explained that the U.S. is 
interested in Europe's energy security because energy markets are 
connected.  Countries can not be held hostage, with their people 
left in the cold, because of energy dependence on a single source. 
When asked by Delegation Chairman Elmar Brok (EPP, Germany) if the 
proposed U.S.-EU Energy Council (UEEC) is a competing project to the 
TEC, the Charge said the two bodies are complementary.  Energy 
issues, he continued, are specific to the region, and energy policy 
is sufficiently distinct from the many other topics assigned to the 
TEC to warrant its own dialogue.  The UEEC is another forum that can 
meet more often that the bi-annual TEC and is exclusively dedicated 
to this complicated topic. 
 
¶6. (SBU) The Charge emphasized that the TEC is an important 
instrument to make U.S. and EU economies more efficient.  When asked 
about the agenda for the TEC meeting planned for October 27, he 
explained that the specifics are still being discussed, but that the 
TEC will likely address regulatory harmonization; dialogue with 
third parties, notably intellectual property rights and China; 
environmental issues; and technological issues, such as in the 
 
BRUSSELS 00001371  002.6 OF 002 
 
 
health field.  When asked if data privacy and protection will be 
included in the TEC, the CDA explained that since the issue falls 
under both Pillars 1 and 3, its mixed nature calls for handling 
through the High Level Contact Group.  (Note: Several MEPs were 
quick to point out that the Pillar structure will no longer exist 
after the adoption of the Lisbon Treaty.  End note.)  He added that 
we are working toward a binding international agreement on data 
privacy, particularly important because of the differences between 
our two systems.  The U.S. law in force dates back to 1974, and 
while it does not contain a right of redress, we do have that 
ability through the Freedom of Information Act and other means.  He 
concluded by reiterating that we want to continue to consult with 
the EU. 
 
DOHA TRADE ROUND 
------------------ 
 
¶7. (U) The Charge emphasized that the United States is committed to 
a successful completion of an agreement in the Doha Trade Round. 
However, it must be fair and enhance global trade, and not simply be 
an agreement for the sake of an agreement.  When Jacqueline Foster 
(ECR, United Kingdom) asked for open competition assurances from the 
administration, the Charge said that the United States is not 
looking for protectionism.  He reminded the MEPs that Congress needs 
to approve any agreement, and that the administration can not 
support something that Congress will not. 
 
MISSILE DEFENSE AND VISA WAIVER 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶8. (U) MEP Corina Cretu (S&D, Romania) asked for a few minutes to 
discuss the non-TEC related topics of visa waiver and missile 
defense.  She wanted guarantees that the administration would not 
change the provisions for entering the visa waiver program.  The 
Charge referred to the Congressional mandates on the topic, but 
stressed that the administration wants all EU member states to be 
part of the program once they meet these guidelines.  Cretu 
explained to the Charge that many Eastern Europeans from relatively 
newly independent countries, such as Romania, have not forgotten 
Russian aggression and still have reasons to fear the country.  She 
said that many are worried that the postponement of missile defense 
in Europe signals that the U.S. and Russia are "working behind our 
backs."  The Charge thanked her for the opportunity to clarify that 
the U.S. policy has been evolving for years.  The Obama 
administration stressed that missile defense has always been 
designed to protect Europe from an Iranian threat.  We now realize 
that the real threat from Iran stems from short range missiles, 
which led to the modification of a phased approach that would be a 
system for all of Europe. 
 
THE DELEGATION PREPARES ITS NEXT STEPS 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶9. (SBU) Chairman Brok concluded the session by calling for all 
members of the delegation to expand their personal contacts with the 
Senate, House, and staffers in Washington.  Responding to worries 
about the anticipated close timing of the TEC and U.S.-EU Summit, he 
suggested that at the next meeting the delegation approve a single 
resolution for both consultations.  In preparation, each MEP was 
given a substantial booklet of background information, most of which 
was culled directly from the USEU's website. 
 
MURRAY