Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 06PARIS7604, France Energy Policy Maker on energy independence, energy

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #06PARIS7604.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
06PARIS7604 2006-12-01 05:14 2011-08-24 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Paris
VZCZCXRO3415
RR RUEHAG RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLZ RUEHROV
DE RUEHFR #7604/01 3350514
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 010514Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY PARIS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3470
INFO RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC
RHEBAAA/USDOE WASHDC
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES
RUEANFA/NRC WASHDC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PARIS 007604 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EUR/WE; OES; EB/ESC, AND EB/CBA 
USDOC FOR 4212/MAC/EUR/OEURA 
DOE FOR ROBERT PRICE PI-32, KP LAU NE-80, KIM BALLOU 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ENRG EPET FR
SUBJECT: France Energy Policy Maker on energy independence, energy 
trends, and France's new energy law 
 
 
NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION 
 
1. (SBU) Summary:  Ministry of Economy, Finance, and Industry Energy 
Director General Dominique Maillard told us that France has 
diversified its energy sources so that it is not dependent on any 
one overseas market.  A large proportion of its energy comes from 
nuclear energy, and no more than one-third of its gas needs comes 
from any single market.  The EU has focused on deregulation, rather 
than diversification of supply.  He believed that EU countries 
needed to invest in more electricity production and cross-border 
infrastructure to prevent blackouts similar to the November 4 
blackout that struck much of South Western Europe.  Maillard was 
confident that France's new energy law, which implements the 2003 
European Union (EU) electricity and gas directives, would survive 
scrutiny from both France's constitutional court and the European 
Commission.  End summary. 
 
What the General Directorate for Energy Does 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
2. (U) On November 15, econoff met with Ministry of Economy, 
Finance, and Industry Energy Director General Dominique Maillard 
(Under Secretary-level) to discuss French and European energy policy 
and the GOF's newly passed energy law.  Maillard explained that the 
General Directorate for Energy and Raw Materials formulates and 
implements France's energy policy.  It seeks to maintain open 
markets for energy, track key energy and raw material sectors, and 
supervise energy-related companies.  His division drafts 
energy-related laws and regulations, and implements EU energy 
directives.  It also participates in EU and International Energy 
Agency (IEA) discussions on energy. 
 
France Has Diversified its Energy Supplies 
------------------------------------------ 
 
3. (SBU) France has taken great care to diversify its energy 
sources, Maillard noted.  Its nuclear program provides 80 percent of 
its electricity and 40 percent of its overall energy needs.  France 
obtains most of its natural gas from the North Sea, Russia, and 
Algeria, but no one of these suppliers accounts for more than a 
third of France's consumption.  Germany, he believes, has been 
unwise to depend on Russia for such a large portion of its gas 
supplies.   He said that the UK, with dwindling energy supplies from 
the North Sea, was prudent to consider reinvigorating its nuclear 
energy program.  The North Sea provided the largest source of oil to 
France, with France importing 17 percent of its needs from Norway, 
followed by 12 percent from Russia.  Countries importing more than 
50-60 percent of their energy needs from Russia had a "dangerous" 
dependency. 
 
4. (SBU) Maillard continued that his ministry aimed to contribute to 
France's goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 75 percent by 
2050 and will use technical, technological, economic, and social 
means to accomplish this aim.  In working toward this aim, France 
intends to coordinate within the EU, but realizes that other 
European countries are not prepared to replace present sources of 
energy with nuclear power to the extent necessary to reach this goal 
across the EU. 
 
EU Energy Policy Emphasizes Deregulation over Diversity of Supply 
--------------------------------------------- ---------- 
 
5. (SBU) EU policy, Maillard continued, differed from France's in 
that it emphasized deregulation of energy markets, rather than 
diversity of supply.  Maillard and his staff meet periodically with 
their EU counterparts to coordinate on energy and energy security 
issues.  Maillard saw a number of trends across the EU.  European 
dependency on fossil fuels will continue to increase at a time when 
there is little hope of finding new reserves of oil, gas, and coal 
in the EU.  Since Russia is close, new pipelines from Russia will be 
built.  Russia sells 90 percent of its gas to Europe and this 
dependency on the European market will continue.  One important 
reason is that Russia can obtain better prices for its gas in Europe 
than it would likely obtain in alternative markets, such as China. 
However, Russia wants to develop its liquefied natural gas (LNG) 
production capability so that it can diversify its client base. 
While Europe obtains 50 to 60 percent of its natural gas from 
Russia, it  should develop new routes to exploit gas reserves in 
Azerbaijan and elsewhere, Maillard said. 
 
More Interconnection between Energy Grids Needed 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
6. (SBU) According to Maillard, a power outage that affected 10 
 
PARIS 00007604  002 OF 002 
 
 
percent of France's population and much of Southern Europe on 
November 4 demonstrated that European power grids needed more 
interconnection.  While Maillard's staff was still investigating all 
the aspects of the blackout, the apparent reason was German utility 
E.On's decision to switch off a high-voltage power line in Lower 
Saxony, setting off the worst electricity outage in France since 
1978.   With greater interconnectivity switching off one power line 
would not have caused such a large power outage.  Investment in 
cross-border power lines would help.  Additionally, European 
countries would have to invest in power-generation capacity. 
France was able to reconnect all clients affected by the power 
outage within forty minutes because its significant hydropower 
reserves allowed it to compensate for the loss of the electricity 
from Germany. 
 
France's New Energy Law 
----------------------- 
 
7. (SBU) On November 30, the Constitutional Court will rule on 
whether the newly passed energy law, which allows the GOF to 
decrease its stake in Gaz de France (GDF) from 70 percent to 
one-third, is constitutional.  (Note:  The actual GOF share of GDF 
is 80.2 percent.  End note.)  Assuming it is upheld, the law would 
enter into force two weeks afterwards.  Although much attention has 
been placed on the merger between energy group Suez and GDF, the 
most important aspect of this law is that it will deregulate 
France's energy market by July 1, 2007, consistent with the 2003 EU 
electricity and gas directives.  By that date, consumers will be 
able to switch suppliers, if they so choose. 
 
8. (SBU) Maillard said the energy bill contained a clause that would 
maintain current tariffs for two years after deregulation.  He noted 
this addition to the law was politically necessary since the GOF 
gained public and legislative support for the law only by arguing 
that more competition would decrease prices.  The legislature added 
this clause "to ensure this condition is fulfilled."  He expects 
that the European Commission will send France a questionnaire on the 
continued regulated tariffs, which are contrary to the EU Energy 
Directive.  Maillard said his staff would diligently reply to the EU 
questions and he did not anticipate further EU intervention. 
 
STAPLETON