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CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN SECRET SECRET//NOFORN UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

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### Viewing cable 09BERLIN1636, Lame Duck German Governor Kicked Upstairs as New

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Reference ID | Date | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | ---
09BERLIN1636 | 2009-12-31 14:02 | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | Embassy Berlin

`

    VZCZCXRO9015
    RR RUEHIK
    DE RUEHRL #1636 3651406
    ZNR UUUUU ZZH
    R 311406Z DEC 09
    FM AMEMBASSY BERLIN
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6167
    INFO RUCNFRG/FRG COLLECTIVE
    RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES
    RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
    RUEHBS/USMISSION USEU

` `

    UNCLAS BERLIN 001636

    STATE PASS to EEB
    STATE PASS TO USTR

    SENSITIVE

    SIPDIS

    E.O. 12958: N/A
    TAGS: ECON EFIN ETRD ELAB GM
    SUBJECT: Lame Duck German Governor Kicked Upstairs as New
    Energy Commissioner in Brussels

    REF: Frankfurt 002808
    Sensitive but unclassified; not for Internet Distribution.
    ¶1. (SBU) Chancellor Angela Merkel nominated Baden-
    Wuerttemberg (BW) Minister President Guenther Oettinger as EU
    Energy Commissioner primarily to remove an unloved lame duck
    from an important CDU bastion.  The move was not the promotion
    of a valued colleague as Merkel's allies sought to portray it.
    Rather, Oettinger's increasing loss of party support in BW
    compelled Merkel to push Oettinger out to protect her support
    base there.  Oettinger is noted for a lackluster public
    speaking style, and some commentators have asserted that
    Merkel, who has often stood out at EU meetings, wanted to
    appoint a German Commissioner who would not outshine her.

    ¶2. (SBU) Germany has a time-honored tradition of sending
    unwanted politicians to the EU Commission, although departing
    SPD EU Industry Commissioner Guenter Verheugen proved his
    worth during his tenure.  Oettinger has criticized Merkel for
    her policy stances (on federal support to Opel and on generous
    subsidies to the former eastern states, for instance)  and her
    purported lack of leadership while antagonizing other
    influential CDU leaders.  In addition to being a poor public
    speaker, he has a tendency to put his foot in his mouth.  The
    best-known example was his ill-advised 2007 defense of a CDU
    predecessor as an opponent of the National Socialist regime,
    despite his documented pro-Nazi war record.  Nonetheless,
    Oettinger is said by industry sources in Baden-Wuerttemberg to
    be an efficient behind-the-scenes negotiator.
    ¶3. (U) Merkel was criticized for choosing the energy
    portfolio, which many derided as too insignificant for
    Germany.  Werner Langen, CDU/CSU caucus spokesman in the EU
    Parliament, said the portfolio has "lost significance."
    Prominent Green Member of the European Parliament, Reinhard
    Buetikofer characterized it as "not particularly influential,"
    and Der Spiegel called it a "makeshift job."  The EU Energy
    Commissioner is responsible for issues such as supply
    security, energy R&D and efficiency, competition in the gas
    and electricity markets, infrastructure and low carbon
    technologies.  However, key issues such as energy security and
    climate change are not in the portfolio; nor will Oettinger
    take over the role of EU Commission Vice President from
    Verheugen.
    ¶4. (U) Oettinger has an academic background in law and
    economics and professional experience as a tax consultant and
    accountant.  His political expertise is in media policy.  His
    background in energy appears limited to public support for
    nuclear power and the extension of power plant operating
    licenses.  His pro-nuclear stance is in stark contrast to many
    other German politicians, who support the phase out of nuclear
    power.  This endears him to the EU, which is focused on
    diversification of energy sources and does not exclude nuclear
    energy.  Nuclear power plants supply most of BW's energy while
    renewable energy and fossil fuels do not play a significant
    role.  Oettinger has not expressed interest to date in energy
    issues other than nuclear.  His priorities in his list
    submitted to the EU Parliament in the run up to the January
    hearings of the candidate Commission are reportedly vague.

    ¶5.  (SBU) Parliamentarians, skeptical of several members of
    the new Commission, are likely to display particular interest
    in Oettinger's views on binding energy efficiency targets and
    encouraging more competition in internal energy markets.
    Although Germany has embraced a controversial domestic goal of
    increasing energy efficiency by 20% by 2020, it has yet to
    translate the EU energy efficiency directive into national
    law.  Germany has also steadfastly opposed liberalization of
    its power sector oligopoly (what Brussels calls "unbundling")
    although individual German companies are slowly moving in that
    direction.  Oettinger's stance on the internal energy market
    will also be of particular interest to European
    parliamentarians, who see France, and particularly French
    power giant EdF, as a major barrier to opening up the market.
    EdF is a major share-holder in BW regional energy supplier
    ENBW, which operates the state's nuclear power plants -- and
    with which Oettinger is known to have warm relations.

    DELAWIE

`