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Baroness Ashton will betray Victor Hugo’s dream
Article by Federico Guerrieri. Picture by World Economic Forum
A day will come when all the nations of this continent, without losing their distinct qualities or their glorious individuality, will fuse together in a higher unity and form the European brotherhood
- Victor Hugo
Yesterday (19th of November 2009), the EU Leaders nominated Belgian President Herman Van Rompuy President of the EU, and Baroness Catherine Ashton of Upholland High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy of the European Union.
I believe the appointment of Lady Ashton to be totally misguided.
First of all, unpleasant as it may sound, I do not believe that the most important position (even more than that of President) of the EU should have been given to a British. In fact, the High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy of the EU will represent the continent in the most important international meetings, will preside the reunion of the EU Foreign Policy Ministers and, as Vice President of the Commission, she will have a great impact and influence on the executive. Moreover, Baroness Ashton will have the privilege of selecting and forming the 4,000 functionaries who will represent Europe in the world. It is a very important issue, because these officers will stay in place far longer than the two years and an half prefigured for Lady Ashton.
Many experts, such as journalist Andrea Bonanni in “La Repubblica”, underline that the EU is today at a fundamental turning point. If the EU does not want to remain forever nothing more than a useless economic union, it has to implement the process of European integration, creating a truly unique foreign and security policy. In order to achieve this goal, the member states must be ready to concede something of their sovereignty, otherwise we will never see a truly united Europe.
Some countries, such as France, Germany and Italy, are ready to accelerate the process of integration. The United Kingdom is not, even more if we consider that the Conservative Party (which has a strong anti-european position) might soon be in power. The future of the European Union is in danger with Lady Ashton and the process of European integration is at risk.
A more fundamental problem is directly linked to the person of Catherine Ashton. In fact, the Baroness lacks any competence at all in the international scenario and in foreign policy. She has only been EU Trade Commissioner, and, as we have already analysed in a previous article, she has been strongly criticised by several developing and Third World countries for what she has done in office.
The EU trade policy is directly responsible for worsening the livelihoods of the poorest people in the world. The economic agreements proposed by the EU and Lady Ashton in particular, have often worsened the situation of this poor countries favouring European multinationals. Lady Ashton has forced governments, such as those of Lesotho and Botswana, to sign this agreements with the EU, pursuing the talks in the style of a 21st Century Viceroy.
Another aspect to take into consideration is the fact that Catherine Ashton is completely unknown in the international arena. Informed of the appointment of Lady Ashton, Romano Prodi said: “Did they choose Catherine Ashton? But, who is she? A Baroness? I don’t know her… It is unbelievable, I am shocked”.
Daniel Cohn-Bendit, Leader of the Greens at the European Parliament thinks that “Europe has hit the bottom” and called President Herman Van Rompuy “pale” and Catherine Ashton “a warm body”.
The appointments of the two most important offices of the European Union makes me think that the majority of European leaders prefer a weak Europe rather than a strong one. Tony Blair and Massimo D’Alema would have strengthened the position of the EU in the world. Europe would have become a truly important player in the world politics, rather than simply processing orders from the US and China.
But for now a strong Europe will remain a dream. A dream for a few apparently.
You hit on an important point when you highlight the EU leaders’ perceived preference for “a weak Europe”. What they were seeking were weak appointees – people who might be receptive to being influenced (as Barroso). But what they have produced is a recipe that seems likely to continue (or even worsen) the current mess at the top of the EU.
However, I would criticise your assessment that a British appointee would be wrong. You fall into the same trap as the EU leaders: seeking a politically satisfying (to you) solution rather than the best solution. If the jobs had been better defined (eg in terms of normal CV criteria) then surely nationality would not have mattered?
I think Derek is right in pointing out that the ‘nationality’ of the nominee should not be important – after all going beyond such national stereotypes is precisely what the European Union should be about!
The problem is that Ashton – regardless of the being British – does not seem to have any particularly strong desire for / belief in a strong European voice in the world. And even if that were the case has no foreign policy experience.
Two days after Obama and Hu Jintao decided on their own that no climate change agreement is to be made in Copenhagen, we might have hoped for a slightly more forceful response from Europe…
I agree with Damien and think that she will surprise people.
If Merkel and Sarkozy decide they don’t want to be outshone by the President, then the same goes for the High Representative. Prime Ministers and Foreign Ministers do not want to feel blotted out by another big ego.
The point of the High Representative is two-fold.
First, is to find a common line and persuade the Member States to keep to it. This requires massive behind-the-scenes negotiation, drudgery, and, for the foreign ministers to accept this, a character who is willing to win a common position and then allow the foreign ministers to wave it about as their own.
A High Rep with a big ego and backstory would be wholly inappropriate. Ashton suits this role, as she showed leading the House of Lords and getting the Lisbon Treaty through.
Second, the High Rep’s first few years will, surprisingly, be quite introverted.
Yes, you mention the thousands-strong External Action Service that needs to be set up. Plans for this are little advanced. Without someone who is prepared to do the legwork sorting this out, it is never going to get off the ground. Ashton will do this and be good at it, because she is a fixer.
Again, a ‘big’ name known for grandstanding is hardly going to achieve this.
There may understandably be disappointment that Lisbon is not a Big Bang. But you can’t just launch into things without setting things up, and winning people round to agreement. The threat of a domineering figure would itself set back European integration much more than a more low-key, but persuasively competent, one.
Other smaller points…
Federico, if you want the British to be more involved, perhaps choosing a Briton is a wise move. Sidelining people does not, generally, encourage them.
You also say she has ‘only’ been EU Trade Commissioner. This is like saying she has ‘only’ held the most powerful Commission portfolio, one of the few competences where the EU actually speaks with a single voice on the world stage.
Dear all,
in my ideal Europe, I would agree with you.The question of nationality should not matter
However, as long as the single member States will have different ideas of Europe, the question of nationality will matter.
If the UK does not want to accelarete the EU process of integration, then I must say that a British should not be the EU Foreign Policy Minister.
The role of President of the EU was more appropriate for a British.
This would have been satisfactory for the EU and for all those who believe in a strong Europe. A few apparently.
For what concern the Baroness of Upholland, I have nothing to add sincerelly.
“Some countries, such as France, Germany and Italy, are ready to accelerate the process of integration.”
And your evidence for that is what exactly? Germany and Italy have nominated very weak candidates and have shown no recent determination to advance the European project whatsoever.
Massimo D’Alema has been Italian Prime Minister and Foreign Minister. Therefore I don’t see him as a weak candidate.
Italy, France and Germany can think of starting a process which will lead to the creation of a Federation of European States. But not with 27 or more countries.
However, even in this situation, the six countries which started the EU (plus Spain and a few others) are far more pro-European than the UK.
[...] arena and they cannot represents such an important organization. As I have already underlined in a previous article, the appointments of the two most important offices of the European Union makes me think that the majority of European [...]
I agree with you on most points. I don’t agree that Massimo D’Alema is competent for the positon of high rep however. As is not lady ashton. D’Alema has only brought down governments in Italy and continues to ruin the chances of a credible opposition (PD). I am concerned as I read more frequently that lady ashton is seriously not suitable for the position she has been given
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