By Martha Moss - 20th November 2009
Senior UK Socialist MEP Richard Howitt has dismissed as "nonsense" claims that Cathy Ashton lacks the diplomatic experience for her new post as EU foreign affairs chief
The Socialist deputy, who is also a member of parliament's influential foreign affairs committee and Labour's foreign affairs spokesman in the European parliament, told this website he was looking forward to working closely with Ashton in her new role.
Ashton, currently EU trade commissioner, was appointed EU high representative for foreign affairs and security at a summit in Brussels on Thursday night.
The post is one of two top jobs created by the Lisbon treaty. Belgian prime minister Herman Van Rompuy was also named as the new president of the European council at the summit.
Howitt is a personal friend of Ashton, and has known her from his UK Hertfordshire constituency since he became an MEP 15 years ago.
"I really like that she is approachable, personable, friendly, and has bucket-loads of common sense," he said.
"Being both someone who is likeable and someone who you want to spend time with, but also someone who can and will deliver, means that she is a really excellent appointee."
It was also important to have a woman appointed to one of the top posts, he said, adding, "I strongly believe, as Cathy Ashton does, that we could not have a new EU structure with no women at the top table."
Some commentators have criticised the appointment of two little-known figures to key EU positions, claiming the move could lessen Europe's influence on the world stage.
But Howitt stressed the significance of the high representative job, saying people who don't know her will look back at the end of her term "and see an enormous record of achievement".
"If they don't know her now they will in five years' time," he said.
Criticism
Howitt's comments came as Ashton, whose appointment came as a surprise to many, hit back at criticism that she did not have enough experience, telling the BBC she was "the best person for the job".
"I think for quite a few people, they would say I am the best for the job and I was chosen because I am," she said.
Howitt agreed, saying his colleague had been "clocking up the air-miles working exhaustively as EU trade commissioner".
He also commended her work on sensitive trade agreements which he said had previously been defined by a "poisonous atmosphere".
He said, "She came in with a fresh ear and brought a new tone to negotiations."
Ashton also showed she "can be tough" in delivering the EU-South Korea trade deal signed last month, Howitt added.
In her new position, which lasts for five years, Ashton will sit as a vice-chair of the commission. She will also chair and set the agendas for meetings of EU foreign ministers.
For Howitt, one of Ashton's key roles will be to act as "midwife" at the birth of the EU external action service (EEAS) created by the Lisbon treaty.
The foreign affairs supremo will head up the 5000-strong diplomatic corps, which brings together national and European diplomats.
Describing the EEAS as one of the "foremost innovations" of the Lisbon treaty, Howitt said there were "huge expectations" among civil servants and the commission about how it will be formed.
"She has got a big management job to genuinely create a new service pulling together expertise but adding in fresh talent from member states to create something new, different and much more effective," he said.
Her most pressing in-tray issues will include working with Tony Blair to address the situation in the Middle East and negotiating EU relations with Russia, Howitt said.
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