Global Europe

Catherine Ashton's appointment has not been well received in elite circles but the problem of European foreign policy is structural rather than one of personalities. This was well encapsulated in the comment by Bernard Kouchner that 'the EU was looking for a messenger' in appointing a new High representative. No doubt there were more high-profile candidates but why would they take a job that was defined as being merely the mouthpiece of the EU?

Hopefully, Catherine Ashton will confound her critics by growing into the job (one did not read much about the inexperience of Guido Westerwelle, the new German foreign minister) and make judicious use of her chairmanship of the foreign affairs council and her right of initiative.

In previous years, the Commission, worried at the reaction of some member states, never used this right. Now the High Representative for Foreign Affairs/Vice-President of the Commission has the chance to put forward her own proposals in the knowledge that she is backed by a bureaucracy representing the European interest and not just national interests. Many of the Council papers that Solana prepared in recent years drew heavily on the Commission services. The External Action Service (what a ghastly name!) should now be in a much better position to put forward coherent proposals drawing on the experience on both sides of rue de la Loi. The Brussels external affairs bureaucracy thus has the opportunity to play a decisive role in both the preparation of foreign policy decisions as well as implementing them.

While being unable to ignore any region or theme, Ashton would also be well advised to concentrate her attention on a few key areas where the EU can make an impact. But to do this she has first to encourage the member states to engage in a genuine debate on the EU's strategic interests. The EU cannot afford to dish out strategic partnerships like confetti. The EU needs a more adult, critical, relationship with the US. It needs to define the key elements of a comprehensive agreement with Russia and China. It needs to embark on a European white paper on defence to reduce the amount of duplication.

In short, what the EU needs are more coherent policies that promote EU interests. This is something that all 27 member states need to discuss and define. If they can do this then Cathy Ashton will be a good messenger.