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UNCLAS BERLIN 02948
SIPDIS
CX2BERLN:
ACTION: POL
INFO: ECON AMB JIS DCM CHRON FAS DAO DAOBONN PAO
CXBERLIN:
ACTION: POL
INFO: ECON AMB JIS DCM CHRON FAS DAO DAOBONN PAO
DISSEMINATION: POL
CHARGE: PROG
APPROVED: POL:JRATHKE
DRAFTED: POL:TFELCHLIN,POL:BM
CLEARED: POL:MMARTIN, ECON:DNEUMANN
VZCZCRLI465
PP RUEHC RUEHZL
DE RUEHRL #2948/01 2791223
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 061223Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY BERLIN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5579
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BERLIN 002948
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL EU GM
SUBJECT: CHANCELLOR MERKEL'S SPEECH ON GOALS FOR EU
PRESIDENCY
REF: A) BERLIN 2893 B) BERLIN 1651 C) BERLIN 2782
1. (U) Summary. Chancellor Merkel spoke on September 22 at a
Bertelsmann Foundation Conference on the future of Europe and
highlighted five key goals for the EU as her government
prepares to assume the EU presidency in the first half of
2007. First, the EU is committed to democracy, rule of law
and human rights and these values will form the basis for
dialogue with non-EU countries. Second, for the time being
no new countries would be considered for membership, except
for those that already have an EU "perspective" (Turkey and
the Balkans) and all future members must fulfill all
membership criteria completely. Third, the EU must seek
reforms to further energize the European economy and internal
market. Fourth, Europe, in collaboration with the U.S. and
NATO, should continue to expand on its global engagement.
Fifth, the chancellor hoped for ratification of the EU
constitution by 2009, adding that it should have a provision
for an EU Foreign Minister. End Summary.
EU Values
2. (U) Merkel began her speech by stating the EU is a
community of values and should use these values (such as
freedom, democracy, rule of law and respect for human rights)
as a basis for conducting dialogue with non-EU countries,
including inter-religious and intercultural dialogue. She
specifically called for a EU-wide dialogue with Islam.
3. (U) Speech excerpts: "Europe must make its mind up about
its values... We all share common values, such as freedom,
democracy, rule of law and respect for human rights... We
must discuss them with other countries that are not members
of the European Union, and our relations must reflect these
values. I believe that the significance of these values must
be an important issue for the 50th anniversary of the Treaty
of Rome. We will prepare a political declaration for the
occasion... Regarding the question of values it is also
important for the European Union to pursue an intercultural
and inter-religious dialogue. In Germany, Interior Minister
Schaeuble has begun to pursue this dialogue with the Islam
Conference (see Ref A). I think that the EU should make clear
that is also ready to begin such a dialogue. This is not easy
for two reasons: Because we ourselves have problems agreeing
on common grounds and because we lack knowledge of other
cultures and religions."
EU Expansion
4. (U) Merkel acknowledged differences of opinion in the EU
on expansion but suggested that for the foreseeable future no
new members would be added outside the Balkans. Negotiations
with Turkey would continue, but Turkey needs to fulfill all
criteria especially in regard to the Cyprus issue. The EU
needs a more active neighborhood policy in light of its
inability to offer realistic prospects of membership for a
long time in Eastern Europe. See Ref B for more details on
this point.
5. (U) Speech excerpts: "My second point: Europe must
clarify its inner and outer contours because Europe will not
master the challenges of a rapidly changing world without a
clear idea of its geographic extent...I believe it is right
to say that we cannot make any more promises regarding new
membership--with the exception of the Balkans. This is a
tough statement because, with a view toward Ukraine, our
Polish and Baltic neighbors might have different ideas. But
I want to stand by this because I believe we must make sure
that the countries in the EU are viable and compatible."
6. (U) Speech excerpts cont.: "For those who pursue entry
negotiations, established criteria must be applied. One of
the criteria is the ability of the current European Union to
take on new members. That is how we understand the Copenhagen
criteria. We are conducting entry negotiations with Turkey,
but it is necessary to meet all of the criteria. I do not
want to go into any details here, but the issue of Cyprus
concerns us. This question must be resolved...It is all the
more important that we develop a consistent policy toward our
neighbors. We need a situation, a community, and commonness
that goes beyond being merely a neighbor of EU members, but
stops short of full membership..."
Economic Agenda
7. (U) The EU should strengthen the internal market and
undertake other reforms to increase the dynamism of the
European economy. See Ref C for more detail on Germany's
economic agenda.
8. (U) Speech excerpts: "A dynamic economy is also a
precondition for the future of the European Union...Because
of the EU we are better off, and the complete implementation
of the common market is therefore a key issue...We all moan
and groan from time to time when the properties and rights we
have become accustomed to and we believe are integral are
touched, but I believe there is no alternative to completing
the common market...We need a more dynamic and, therefore,
liberalizing approach in energy, postal services,
telecommunications, financial services...The third point that
is important to me during our presidency is that we
emphasize, apart from better regulation and a reduction of
bureaucracy, the topics of research and development..."
U.S.-EU Relations
9. (SBU) Europe should continue to increase its global
engagement, but do so in close cooperation with the U.S. and
NATO.
10. (U) Speech excerpts: "My fourth point is that we will
only be able to influence globalization if we bring our
common influence to bear. That means that we have to be
strong, consistent, and creative at international
negotiations, such as the Doha Round and Kyoto...In addition,
it is about a common security and defense policy. It must be
said that this security and defense policy - this is very
important to me - must not be directed against the
transatlantic partnership. Neither must it come to a
conflicting situation with NATO. However, over the next few
years, Europe will be increasingly in demand concerning tasks
in foreign, security, and defense policies...The military
component of UNIFIL requires a political engagement because
the people of Europe will otherwise ask us what we do. We
must therefore, together with our American partner, be
creative and resolve the individual conflicts with great
commitment..."
EU Constitution
11. (U) The EU should agree on something akin to a
constitution by 2009 that would include a provision for an EU
Foreign Minister. Officials at the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs indicate that Merkel will seek to enhance the idea of
an EU Foreign Minister by having High Representative for CFSP
Javier Solana chair some of the troika meetings focused on EU
relations with third countries during the German presidency.
12. (U) Speech excerpts: "The fifth point is that Europe
needs a future structure in from of a (constitutional)
treaty... By 2009, we must have made the decision (about the
constitution)... However, the German (EU) presidency must
develop the timeframe for the structure... At the end of our
presidency we will present a plan, a concept. Given a number
of upcoming elections, this will not be possible before the
end of our presidency...This includes, above all, the
creation of the office of a European Union foreign minister."
TIMKEN JR