US embassy cable - 05BRUSSELS2345

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 002345 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/16/2015 
TAGS: PREL, EUN, NATO, IQ, USEU BRUSSELS 
SUBJECT: BRUSSELS SCENE-SETTER FOR SECRETARY'S 
PARTICIPATION IN IRAQ CONFERENCE 
 
Classified By: Political MC Kyle Scott.  Reason: 1.4(b)(d) 
 
1.  (C) Europe is still in turmoil as a result of the "no" 
votes in France and the Netherlands  on the European 
constitution.  As expected, European leaders have turned 
inward as they struggle to look responsive to public 
discontent with their leadership.  The debates at their June 
16-17 summit reflect how the constitution, future enlargement 
and the EU budget are all complicated by the need to deliver 
on existing EU commitments while maintaining adequate public 
support.  Despite their internal disarray, we expect the EU 
to continue to press a common foreign agenda -- if for no 
other reason than to prove to their publics that the European 
project is still relevant.  Our publicly-stated desire to 
continue working with them on our common agenda has been 
welcome, and that is the key message they also hope to convey 
at the US-EU summit that will be held the day before your 
arrival. 
 
2. (C) In this regard, Europe's transformation on Iraq in 
particular is one we should welcome.  We have moved beyond 
the disagreements of 2003 that divided the alliance and the 
Union.  NATO's training mission is well underway, with all 
European allies contributing.  NATO SYG Jaap De Hoop Scheffer 
will participate in the Iraq conference, and will have an 
opportunity during the session on rule of law and public 
order you are co-chairing to lay out NATO's views on next 
steps.  Likewise, an EU "troika" composed of FM Asselborn, FM 
Straw, Javier Solana, and Benito Ferrero-Waldner just 
completed the first-ever high-level EU visit to Baghdad.  EU 
training of over 800 judges, prosecutors, and senior police 
and prison officials ("EUJUST LEX") will kick off in July, 
the EU stands ready to support drafting a constitution, 
committed over 1.2 billion euros at the Madrid conference 
(with 320 million euros deployed thus far), helped prepare 
the January elections, agreed to substantial debt relief, and 
Ferrero-Waldner announced last week that the Commission 
intends to open a delegation office in Baghdad soon.  Several 
EU member states have also offered bilateral programs. 
 
3. (C) There is a growing consensus here that Europe has a 
stake in a successful outcome in Iraq, and is ready to help. 
But EU officials tell us privately that they are concerned 
that the Iraqi government has been too vague and scattered in 
its approach.  They will be looking to the Iraqi delegation 
at the conference to clarify its priorities for the short- 
and medium-term.  Anything we can do to help the large Iraqi 
delegation focus its requests would be welcome. 
 
4. (C) While progress on Iraq has been notable, the 
cancellation of the proposed informal EU-NATO foreign 
ministers' dinner and EU reluctance to mention NATO in the 
final communiqu underscores another, unfortunate, dynamic at 
play in Brussels.  The Belgians clearly saw their initiative 
as an effort to climb out of the hole they dug with the April 
2003 "chocolate summit."  Following the President's and your 
visits in February, Europeans hailed a new spirit of 
partnership with the U.S.  Many of them, however, are 
concerned by what they see as an American attempt to insert 
NATO into areas where the EU has long been the dominant 
European actor (Darfur, Middle East peace process), and to 
blur the lines of decision-making autonomy that divide the 
two organizations.    We need to address these concerns 
forthrightly in any side discussions we hold with EU leaders 
here or in London at the G-8 meetings.  The EU should not be 
allowed to dictate how we deal with Europe, and a strategy of 
engaging simultaneously through the EU, through NATO, and 
bilaterally remains our best approach.  At the same time, the 
EU is not going to give up on its lead role in a political 
dialogue with the US on issues where it is already fully 
engaged, be it Iran, the peace process, or stability in 
Africa. 
 
SCHNABEL 
 
 
.