VZCZCXRO2699
RR RUEHIK
DE RUEHBS #0121/01 0320615
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 010615Z FEB 10
FM USEU BRUSSELS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC
INFO RUCNMUC/EU CANDIDATE STATES COLLECTIVE
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 000121 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT PASS TO EUR/PGI - IWEINSTEIN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EUN KISL PGOV PHUM PREL SCUL SOCI PTER PINS
KPAO 
SUBJECT: USEU AND MUSLIM ENGAGEMENT 
 
REF: A) 09 STATE 127215 B) 09 BRUSSELS 444 
 
BRUSSELS 00000121  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1.  (U) SUMMARY:  USEU Muslim outreach efforts have two 
objectives: U.S-EU cooperation on countering radicalization 
in Europe and globally, and sharing of best practices in 
integrating minorities into our societies.  The latter 
cooperation on broader integration of minorities particularly 
reinforces an image of transatlantic common interests and 
shared values.  USEU Public Affairs (PA) and the political 
section (POL) conduct regular consultation with EU officials 
at the Council, Commission, and Parliament to make our Muslim 
outreach both in and beyond Europe complementary and 
reinforcing. USEU PA program partners include Brussels think 
tanks, NGOs, and American NGOs with whom we bring 
international experts to Brussels for public discussions. END 
SUMMARY. 
 
EU CONTEXT 
 
¶2.  (U) USEU focuses its programs and messages on the 
policymakers and opinion leaders in the EU institutions as 
well as think tanks and NGO's that influence EU leaders.  For 
the EU, programs that aim to counter the radicalization of 
Muslim communities encompass both domestic and foreign 
policy.  The issue is addressed by the Council, the 
Commission, and the European Parliament, cutting across 
various Commission and Parliamentary committees.  In each 
case, our EU counterparts have been open to U.S. 
collaboration and exchange of best practices. 
 
¶3.  (SBU) The EU is increasingly engaged in both areas of 
Muslim outreach (Ref B).  While domestic Muslim outreach is 
largely an issue of individual EU member states, the European 
Commission and Council coordinate and disseminate information 
to the 27 member states. The Commission has a "Plan of Action 
on Combating Terrorism," updated recently on the basis of 
four academic studies on radicalization trends commissioned 
by the EU.  The Commission also established a European 
Network of Experts (which includes some U.S. participation). 
Given the diversity of Muslim populations in EU member states 
and varying approaches to their integration, there is some 
division of labor in addressing radicalization and general 
minority integration.  The UK specializes in communication, 
for example, France in countering radicalization in prisons, 
Spain in imam training, The Netherlands in community 
programs, Germany in surveillance of the Internet, etc.  The 
Spanish EU rotating presidency hosted a conference in Madrid 
January 13-14 on terrorist recruitment and radicalization 
attended by experts from all 27 member states.  The U.S. was 
invited to the first session at which the U.S. experts made 
two well-received presentations. 
 
STRATEGY AND NEXT STEPS: 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Through visits of Washington officials, American 
and European experts, we now frequently share ideas and best 
practices on issues, such as countering radicalization in 
youth-at-risk, women's empowerment, and minority integration. 
 DRL Assistant Secretary of State Michael Posner engaged NGOs 
during a recent visit to Brussels on how the U.S. deals with 
the problem of defamation of religions and Islamaphobia, with 
examples of how other countries do so.  The U.S. and EU are 
also discussing plans for future specific cooperation in 
countering radicalization. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) Our EU partners agree with us that we should 
continue to broaden the discussion beyond "Muslim outreach" 
to integrating minorities in general.  U.S. efforts to bring 
other practitioners into the public debate, such as our 
program with an African-French community activist now 
deputy-mayor in Paris' 18th arrondissement, have been greeted 
with enthusiasm.  A recent session addressed minority 
empowerment through entrepreneurship, which we will follow 
with a transatlantic meeting on educational policies.  Also 
planned is possible cooperation on EU efforts to look at 
media training to counter stereotypes of minority groups in 
Europe and beyond. 
 
¶6.  (SBU) Finally, the USEU policy dialogue with the EU also 
relates to democratic, economic and educational reform in 
Muslim-majority countries, including promoting interfaith 
dialogue through the work of international non-profit actors 
and organizations. 
 
¶7.  (U) USEU PA has a close working relationship with the 
other sections and agencies at the Mission.  PA works with 
the Senior Consular Officer and PRM Officer in the Political 
Section and the DHS Attache who together recently launched a 
 
BRUSSELS 00000121  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
Migration Dialogue with the EU, the long-term focus of which 
includes integration and concrete steps for countering 
radicalization and promoting human rights. 
 
¶8.  (U) Comment:  Official and non-official Europeans 
welcomed President Obama's overture to the Muslim world as 
promising further action.  Our cooperation with the EU should 
continue to build upon sharing relevant U.S. and European 
experience in integrating minorities and countering extremism 
leading to practical results and possible joint programs. 
End comment. 
 
KENNARD 
.