US embassy cable - 04BRUSSELS4665

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 004665 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/28/2014 
TAGS: PREL, EAID, YI, CY, UP, ZR, IS, SU, SO, EUN, USEU BRUSSELS 
SUBJECT: EU COMMISSION AND COUNCIL SECRETARIAT VIEWS ON 
GAERC AGENDA 
 
REF: A. STATE 228399 
 
     B. STATE 230353 
     C. USEU BRUSSELS 4639 
     D. USEU BRUSSELS 4602 
 
Classified By: Rick Holtzapple, PolOff, Reasons 1.4 (B/D) 
 
1. (C) We shared Ref A and B points with Commission and 
Council officials in advance of the Nov. 2 EU FMs (GAERC) 
meeting and the Nov. 4-5 European Council summit meeting. 
Given the failure of the incoming Barroso Commission to get 
parliamentary confirmation (REF C) before this meeting, the 
Commission's role in these sessions will be severely 
constrained, as it will have to be represented by members of 
the caretaker Prodi Commission.  We have been told this 
ham-strung Commission representation could also limit 
conversation on a broad range of agenda items, particularly 
at the Nov. 4-5 Summit, where discussion of Barroso's plans 
for economic reforms (Lisbon Agenda), the multi-annual 
justice and home affairs agenda, and new efforts on 
"Communicating Europe" are due to be featured events. 
 
2. (C) Incoming External Relations Commissioner 
Ferrero-Waldner had been preparing to attend the Nov. 2 
GAERC, and therefore Judith Gebetstroithner, who should 
become Ferrero-Waldner's deputy chef de cabinet, was able to 
share views on some topics: 
-- On Iraq, Gebetstroithner said that Ferrero-Waldner 
supports all the planning done under Commissioner Patten for 
offering Iraq elections support, shares the same concerns as 
those repeatedly expressed by Patten about the security 
situation in country. Ferrero-Waldner, therefore, would also 
be unlikely to support a full-blown observer presence inside 
Iraq in January.  She added that discussions on the details 
of a police training mission were still underway internally 
within the EU. 
-- On Iran, Gebetstroithner stressed that the real GAERC 
discussion on how to proceed at the IAEA Board of Governors 
meeting would be at the November 22 GAERC, not next week. 
But she added that, from the briefings she had received, it 
was clear that Commission officials handling the issue within 
DG RELEX still felt it would be too early to refer the issue 
to the UNSC, and that more time should be given for 
negotiating with Tehran. 
-- Finally, on Somalia, she said the Commission is likely to 
approach the Transitional Federal Government in a supportive, 
but cautious, manner with a clear understanding that 
engagement with the TFG is, at best, the beginning of a 
long-term process of reforms.  Discussion has begun within 
the EU on whether it would be worthwhile to name a EU Special 
Envoy for Somalia to take this work forward. 
 
3. (C) On Sudan, Margarita Comamala of the Council 
Secretariat, said that Solana's team had returned from their 
 
SIPDIS 
recent visit to the region with some concerns about the AU 
mission (REF D and previous).  In particular, she understood 
they still had worries quick deployment of AU monitors could 
lead to them being in place, but without the means to perform 
their mission.  (We called her attention to Ref A's 
assurances that support on the ground will be in place).  She 
noted some concern within Solana's staff that the AU troops 
could be drawn beyond their monitoring tasks into peace 
enforcement missions, for which they might not be prepared. 
 
McKinley