EU’s Ashton sets out diplomatic vision

Report of an Address by HR Catherine Ashton at the Joint Debate on Foreign and Security Policy, European Parliament Plenary Session, Strasbourg, 10 March 2010, and the following debate.

Lady Ashton hit back at her critics by blaming rivalry among the EU’s institutions for slow progress in establishing the bloc’s new diplomatic service, the European External Action Service (EEAS).

In a feisty appearance she portrayed herself as an energetic leader thinking hard about Europe’s place in the world and travelling frequently from one region to another to uphold European interests.

• Primary Source

European Parliament: Press Release, 10.3.10: Strengthening the democratic legitimacy of eu foreign and security policy http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/infopress_page/031-70326-067-03-11-903-20100310IPR70325-08-03-2010-2010-false/default_en.htm

ESO: Background information: High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy http://www.europeansources.info/record/website-high-representative-of-the-union-for-foreign-affairs-and-security-policy-vice-president-of-the-commission-federica-mogherini/

European Commission: SPEECH/10/82: Catherine Ashton High Representative / Vice President Joint Debate on Foreign and Security Policy European Parliament Strasbourg, 10 March 2010 http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/10/82&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

ESO: Background information: Diplomatic uncertainty casts gloom on Brussels http://www.europeansources.info/record/diplomatic-uncertainty-casts-gloom-on-brussels/

Deutsche Welle, 10.3.10: EU foreign policy chief calls for European unity to halt decline http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,5339617,00.html

ESO: Background information: European External Action Service (EEAS) http://www.europeansources.info/record/council-decision-of-26-july-2010-establishing-the-organization-and-functioning-of-the-european-external-action-service-2010-427-eu/

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