US embassy cable - 04BRUSSELS5334

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BRUSSELS 005334 
 
SIPDIS 
 
C O R R E C T E D  C O P Y (ADDED SIGNER) 
 
NSC FOR FRIED AND MCKIBBEN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/20/2014 
TAGS: PREL, XF, EUN, USEU BRUSSELS 
SUBJECT: DNSA HADLEY MEETING WITH EUROPEAN COMMISSION 
PRESIDENT MANUEL JOSE DURAO BARROSO, DECEMBER 2, 2004 
 
Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Kyle Scott.  Reason: 1.4 (B 
)(D) 
 
PARTICIPANTS: 
 
US:  DNSA Steven Hadley 
        Ambassador Schnabel 
        Elliott Abrams 
        Dan Fried 
        Paul Haenle 
        Mike McKinley, DCM 
        Kyle Scott (notetaker) 
 
EC:  Manuel Barroso, President of European Commission 
         Joao Vale de Almeida, Chief of Cabinet 
         Richard Wright, Director for North America, DG 
External Relations 
         Fernando Adnresen Guimaraes, Member of Cabinet (US 
Affairs) 
         Mrs. Francoise Le Bail, Chief Commission Spokesperson 
         Gunnar Wiegand, DG External Relations (US Affairs) 
 
1. (C) Summary:  Barroso said he looked forward to 
cooperation with the U.S., and has been heartened by 
President Bush, remarks of his intentions to reach out to 
Europe in his second term.  He pledged to work to ensure the 
President,s visit in February is a success.  Barroso,s 
goal, to build a Europe that can be America,s counterpart -- 
but not a counterweight.  Europeans want to put the 
disagreements over Iraq behind them.  Barroso urged seeking a 
positive agenda.  The two also discussed ways to move forward 
on the Middle East peace process and reform in the Broader 
Middle East, support for and timing of elections in Iraq, and 
the way forward on Ukraine.  DNSA Hadley emphasized the 
strategic importance of the EU,s December 17 decision on 
Turkey.  End Summary. 
 
Improving US-European Relations 
------------------------------------------ 
 
2. (C) DNSA Hadley presented Barroso a letter from President 
Bush expressing the President,s commitment to working 
closely with the new Commission on deepening America,s 
partnership with Europe.  Barroso said he fully supported the 
President,s view, had been heartened by the President,s 
remarks about reaching out to Europe, and welcomed his Nova 
Scotia speech on America,s commitment to positive 
multilateral engagement. 
 
3. (C) Hadley said the President,s remarks were sincere. 
The President believes the US and Europe have an opportunity 
to make progress on our common agenda, and that is why he 
committed to an early trip to Europe.  The President is 
convinced that the US and Europe operate best in the world if 
we act together; the trip offers an opportunity to strengthen 
our joint approach to common challenges.  Barroso said he 
looks forward to the visit, and hoped the President would 
find time to send a clear signal of America,s continuing 
commitment to European integration.  Meetings with NATO heads 
of state/government and with EU heads of state/government 
were important, but Barroso suggested a signal in favor of 
the Commission -- the only European Community institution -- 
would be welcome.  In so doing, he would be continuing the 
tradition of US statesmen who have consistently supported 
European integration. 
 
4. (C) Barroso said there is a debate in Europe about whether 
European institutions should be strengthened in order to 
create a counterweight to US power in the world.  Barroso 
said he believes this is unwise.  Europe should integrate to 
become a valuable counterpart to the United States, not a 
counterweight.  The fact is that Europe and the US share the 
same priorities: economic progress, reform in the Broader 
Middle East, a solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict, 
commitment to non-proliferation and to counter terrorism, and 
increasingly must also address the issue of a more assertive 
Russia.  The US and Europe have been working together on all 
these issues, as they have so dramatically in recent days 
over the crisis in Ukraine. 
 
5. (C) Despite this cooperation, Barroso said there was a 
need to create more confidence in US-European relations. 
Public support is declining, largely as a consequence of the 
cleavages caused by the debates over Iraq.  This is not a 
clear US vs. Europe issue, he noted, because European public 
opinion has also been divided on what was the proper approach 
on Iraq.  There is broad agreement, however, that now is the 
time to put these disagreements behind us.  To do so, Barroso 
suggested the President,s visit would be the ideal 
opportunity to lay out a new, positive agenda.  Hadley 
supported this approach, noting that the President takes 
comfort in having a friend like Barroso at the helm of the 
European Commission. 
Arab-Israeli Conflict: 
-------------------------- 
 
6. (C) DNSA Hadley said the President believes there is an 
enormous opportunity to make progress in the Middle East, and 
wants to seize it.  Elections of a new Palestinian President 
will be the first key step.  The US and Europe need to work 
in tandem to support the elections process, but this will be 
only the first step.  The President is convinced there is no 
"short-cut" to peace.  After the elections, the new 
Palestinian democratic leadership will have to develop 
democratic institutions, improve control of the security 
situation, and prove that the Palestinian Authority can 
become a reliable partner for Israel in making peace before 
moving forward to Final Status Talks. 
 
7. (C) Barroso agreed that the opportunity was at hand, but 
suggested there was a sense of urgency coming from the 
region.  Regional leaders, such as Jordan, are begging the 
Commission to do something now.  The sooner we start, Barroso 
stated, the better.  Barroso noted that there is a perception 
in Europe, which he shares, that this unsolved issue is 
fueling terrorism; if Europe and the West are not seen as 
honest brokers in seeking a settlement, it offers Islamic 
extremists more fertile ground for their activities.  This 
can already be seen in Europe,s Muslim community.  In the 
short run, we should strive to provide financial and 
technical support to the Palestinians to make the elections a 
success and give them the capacity to manage their 
territories. 
 
Broader Middle East: 
-------------------------- 
 
8. (C) DNSA Hadley noted that, in addition to the Middle East 
peace process, there was a broader strategic opportunity to 
support reform in the Middle East.  This reform should not be 
forced or imposed from the outside, but we should be ready to 
support the voices from inside the region calling for freedom 
and democracy.  If we can help improve the lives of average 
citizens in this region, it will also make the US and Europe 
more secure.  He urged Barroso to look for common projects 
that Europe and the US could support.  Barroso pointed to the 
EU Barcelona Process, which is a long-term, multi-dimensional 
program that relies on Europe,s "soft power approach" to 
support reform, push for human rights progress, and 
consolidation of the rule of law.  He admitted that it had 
not been easy in this part of the world, but he shared the 
President,s commitment to freedom.  Europe also wants to 
support this reform process, he vowed. 
 
Iraq: 
------ 
 
9. (C) DNSA Hadley said that whatever our past disagreements, 
all now agree that it is important for Iraq to go well.  The 
consequences of success or failure are enormous for all.  The 
real question is how to ensure success.  He noted that 
although we have made some progress with Europe in moving 
ahead, Europe does not seem to share our sense of urgency. 
He asked for Barroso,s advice on how the current situation 
could be improved to achieve more European support.  Barroso 
said that in his confirmation hearing before the European 
Parliament, he had also stressed the need to forget the past 
and work for the future on Iraq.  This is vitally important 
for the EU; if Turkey joins, Iraq will become the Union,s 
immediate neighbor. 
 
10. (C) Europeans, Barroso suggested, will do what they can, 
but the nature of their contribution will differ from country 
to country: some will provide troops, others will offer debt 
forgiveness, or support for the UN,s security, or technical 
and financial assistance.  European leaders, he believes, 
understand the need for a common agenda with the US on Iraq. 
 
11. (C) In response to Barroso,s question about the election 
date, DNSA Hadley said the President,s position is firm in 
that the Iraqis should stick to the planned date of January30.  Our experience 
in Afghanistan showed us that calls to 
delay don,t gain us anything.  There is no reason to believe 
that delaying the elections will improve the security 
situation, and getting greater Iraqi commitment to running 
their own affairs can have a positive impact on the situation 
over time.  The preparations are going forward, and the UN is 
stepping up its activities in support.  The Independent 
Electoral Commission of Iraq is not calling for a delay.  The 
US is increasing its troop strength in Iraq during the 
election period.  In the end, he noted, it is the Iraqis who 
will make the final call on whether or not to delay the 
elections. 
Ukraine: 
---------- 
 
12. (C) DNSA Hadley welcomed the cooperation between the US 
and EU on the unfolding elections crisis in Ukraine, and 
praised the active diplomacy of Solana and the Polish and 
Lithuanian presidents in Kiev.  The key focus should remain 
on the democratic process; whatever the outcome of current 
negotiations, it must reflect the will of the Ukrainian 
people.  Hadley cautioned Russia should not view this in the 
context of US-EU versus Russia and that it will be important 
to keep the door open so that Russia can find a way to walk 
back from its current position.  In the end, Russia must be 
ready to accept a democratic outcome.  He also emphasized 
that if the US and EU,s diplomatic efforts yield a positive 
outcome, we will both have a stake in ensuring the continued 
successof Ukraine.  This may require resources to support the 
Ukrainian economy. 
 
13. (C) Barroso noted that the European Council would face a 
decision in the coming days about its Association Plan for 
Ukraine as part of its larger European Neighborhood Program. 
Given the uncertainties in Ukraine at the moment, the Council 
will have to decide whether or not to approve the program for 
Ukraine.  He predicted they would agree to approve the 
program, but make its implementation dependent on conditions 
on the ground in Ukraine.  If things turn out right, the 
Action Plan will provide quite generous carrots to Kiev: 
market access, technical assistance and development funds. 
It also includes a policy on visa access to EU Member States 
-- a key incentive to Ukraine, which has a mobile work force. 
 He pointed out that Ukrainians were now the largest foreign 
community in his native Portugal.  Thus, he said the EU had 
real leverage with what it is prepared to offer, but said the 
policy will be clear: the quality of Europe,s relations with 
Ukraine will depend on the quality of democracy in the 
country. 
 
Turkey: 
--------- 
 
14. (C) DNSA Hadley noted that the US had taken a low-key 
public approach on Turkey because we realize this is a very 
sensitive issue for Europe.  This quiet stance should not, 
however, be mistaken for a change in the US position or lack 
of interest in Europe,s decision on Turkish membership. 
Turkey needs to see a European vocation to continue on its 
reform track.  He emphasized that Turkey had made 
considerable progress in meeting EU requirements for 
membership and encouraged Barroso to ensure the bar is not 
raised for Turkey at the late stage.  Barroso responded that 
the Commission,s report clearly supports beginning accession 
negotiations with Turkey.  He believes it will be approved on 
December 17.  There are serious domestic problems in some 
member states, driven not only by xenophobia, but also by a 
strain of Euro-federalists who believe Turkish membership 
would change the very nature of Europe -- making it too big, 
too diverse, and including a country in which "too much of it 
is not really in Europe."  Unlike previous enlargement 
debates, which were conducted mainly among European elites, 
the decision on Turkey is hotly debated by the European 
man-on-the-street.  The Commission favors Turkish accession; 
Barroso hoped a positive signal would emerge on December 17. 
SCHNABEL