Ashton talks tough
Baroness Ashton during today's European Parliament session
Photo: European Parliament/Pietro Naj-Oleari
EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton today faced down her critics and presented her plans for a new European diplomatic service to MEPs. Pointing to Europe's declining world influence, she said the time had come for the bloc to stop its infighting and unite - behind her.
In her first 100 days in the job, the EU's new foreign policy head has been savaged in the press and by fellow politicians at almost every step. Today she faced the European Parliament to push her plans for the EU's controversial new diplomatic service.
The European External Action Service - as the 6,000-strong foreign affairs staff will be known - is a bone of contention among EU states, many of whom are worried it will dilute their own individual influence abroad.
Ashton said today that if the EU missed this "once in a generation" to build a common foreign policy, it could well find itself losing out to up-and-coming players such as India and China. "If we pull together we can safeguard our interests. If not, others will make the decisions for us. It's that simple, " was the stark warning she issued to MEPs.
It remains to be seen if her words will stop the wrangling over the EU diplomatic service, especially after Germany and France complained last week about the perceived bias towards the UK when it came to handing out the top-level jobs.
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