Les moments tendres de la politique! Sealed with a Loving Kiss!
THE TELEGRAPH: David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, greeted his French counterpart Bernard Kouchner in a decidedly Continental fashion on Tuesday in Brussels before an EU General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting.

David Miliband greets his French counterpart Bernard Kouchner. (Hillary, eat your heart out!) Photo: The Telegraph
What began with a firm handshake ended in a familiar kiss with the French foreign minister, as Guido Westerwelle, the German foreign affairs minister, looked on.

The affectionate greeting came just three days after Mr Miliband's body language suggested that the special relationship was continuing to flourish between the US and Britain. David Miliband greets Bernard Kouchner with a kiss >>> | Wednesday, December 09, 2009

Catherine Ashton, la lady qu'on n'attendait pas
leJDD.fr: La désignation de Catherine Ashton comme chef de la diplomatie de l'Union européenne, aux côtés du président Van Rompuy - deux fonctions créées par le traité de Lisbonne - suscite la perplexité.

Dans les couloirs de la Commission européenne, on l’appelle "the Baroness". "Avec ses vêtements rose et parme, elle a un côté très lady, façon reine d’Angleterre", s’amuse-t-on au sein de la haute instance bruxelloise. Elle a pourtant annoncé la couleur d’entrée, lorsqu’elle s’est installée dans le siège de commissaire au Commerce extérieur, en 2008: "Ne m’appelez pas baronne… Appelez-moi plutôt Cathy."

Catherine Ashton of Upholland, de son vrai nom, a été nommée jeudi haute représentante de l’Union européenne pour les affaires étrangères, aux côtés d’Herman Van Rompuy, nommé premier président "stable" de l’UE. Une désignation a minima pour ce poste qu’on annonce d’emblée dévalorisé, tant le profil de cette lady britannique de 53 ans ne semble pas susciter d’enthousiasme en Europe.

Décrite comme "consensuelle" et "discrète" par la BBC, comme une "technocrate dénuée d’expérience en matière diplomatique" par The Economist, "aussi inconnue que non élue" par The Guardian, la "Baroness", économiste de formation, a commencé sa carrière en dirigeant pendant six ans une œuvre caritative créée par le prince Charles, Business in the Community. Elle a ensuite été anoblie à la demande du Parti travailliste, en 1999, avant de rentrer à la Chambre des lords… puis d’être nommée successivement secrétaire d’Etat à l’Education, aux Affaires constitutionnelles et à la Justice. Son principal fait d’armes au niveau européen? Avoir obtenu, en 2007, l’adoption du traité de Lisbonne par la Chambre haute du Parlement. Un quasi-exploit au Royaume-Uni, pays plutôt réputé pour ses penchants eurosceptiques… >>> Camille Neveux, Le Journal du Dimanche | Samedi 21 Novembre 2009

Die stille EU-Aussenministerin: Catherine Ashton hat sich in ihrer Karriere daran gewöhnt, stets unterschätzt zu werden
NZZ am SONNTAG: Sie sei profillos und nie gewählt worden, schimpfen Kritiker. Doch die aus einem kleinen Dorf stammende Baroness Ashton ist auf ihre ruhige Art erfolgreich.

Die Zweifel kommen ihr bekannt vor. Schon als Catherine Ashton 2008 EU-Handelskommissarin wurde, fragte die britische Öffentlichkeit: Wer ist diese Frau? Und dann, aggressiver: Hat sie das Zeug für ein solches Amt?

Als Ashton nun am Donnerstag überraschend zur neuen EU-Aussenministerin und Vizechefin der EU-Kommission berufen wurde, waren die Einwände ähnlich, nur noch ätzender: Die 53-Jährige sei zu blass, fähig zwar, aber zu unerfahren, um die EU gegenüber den USA, Russland oder Iran zu repräsentieren. Für den Europa-Experten der Denkfabrik Chatham House ist Ashton «langweilig», die Boulevardzeitung «Daily Mail» bezeichnete sie als «Baroness Who» – die meisten Leuten hätten noch nie von ihr gehört. Viele Kommentatoren schrieben, Ashton und der neue EU-Präsident Herman Van Rompuy seien bestimmt worden, weil die EU keine politischen Schwergewichte wie Tony Blair wünsche, die den Regierungen dreinreden könnten.

Catherine Ashton, die am liebsten einfach «Cathy» genannt wird, konterte die Kritik selbstbewusst. 27 Regierungschefs hätten sie gewählt, und sie wolle zeigen, dass sie «die beste Person ist für das Amt». Sie habe jahrelange Erfahrung in Verhandlungen auf allen möglichen Ebenen, erklärte sie und fügte an, sie sei stolz, das Amt als Frau aufgrund ihrer Fähigkeiten erhalten zu haben. >>> Niels Anner, Cambridge | Sonntag, 22. November 2009

European Union: Fading Presidential Ambitions
THE GUARDIAN – Editorial: Who do you call when you want to call Europe? After five years of wrangling designed to deal with the Henry Kissinger question, the EU last night failed to provide a satisfactory answer. The first ever president of the European council is to be the haiku-writing Belgian prime minister, Herman Van Rompuy, who is still little known in his own country, let alone the wider world. And the continent's pioneering high-representative on foreign policy is the able but unknown Labour baroness, Catherine Ashton, who is as unelected as she is obscure. Neither will stop the traffic even in Brussels, never mind in Beijing. Talk of President Blair has bitten the dust, but so too has any hope of Europe forcing the planet to pay it fresh attention.

That ultimately disappointed hope is what sunk the EU into a prolonged bout of introspection from which it has only just emerged. The 2004 draft constitution was all about creating identifiable leadership, until the people of the Netherlands and France scuppered the plan. But the ambition of providing Europe's half-billion people with a new voice lived on through the Treaty of Lisbon, which limped through near-death in Ireland and eastern resentment to be signed and sealed this month.

At last, the European council could be galvanised by a dynamic leader instead of drifting with an endlessly-rotating chair; and at last Brussels would be able to enter discussion on the Middle East, Africa and the environment with a figure able to look Washington's secretary of state in the eye. Or, at least, that was the theory. But while Tony Blair's divisive and doomed candidacy for the first of these posts created a terrific distraction, Europe quietly returned to its old ways. A Franco-German stitch-up in favour of an obscure Belgian is exactly how things traditionally worked – it is as if the Swedes, the Poles and the rest had never joined the club. There was no puff of white smoke, but the secretive manner in which 27 proud democracies reached the decision made the Vatican look almost transparent. >>> Editorial | Friday, November 20, 2009



THE TELEGRAPH: Herman Van Rompuy: the reluctant leader: Herman Van Rompuy, Belgium's reluctant Prime Minister, is an unexpected first President of the European Union. >>> Bruno Waterfield in Brussels | Thursday, November 19, 2009



THE TELEGRAPH: What will Europe's foreign minister Baroness Ashton do? : Baroness Ashton of Upholland has been appointed high representative for foreign and security policy on Thursday. But what will she actually do? >>> | Friday, November 20, 2009

BBC: Newspapers unite against EU President van Rompuy: There is an unlikely alliance among Friday's papers, with both the Guardian and Daily Mail leading with the same headline, "The Great EU Stitch-Up". >>> | Friday, November 20, 2009

THE SUN: Rompuy romps it: EUROPE'S obscure new President Herman Van Rompuy was celebrating his £320,000-a-year job last night - together with Baroness Ashton, the equally little-known British peer named as EU foreign minister. >>> Graeme Wilson | Friday, November 20, 2009

THE SUN – OPINION: THEY just don't get it.

Europe's two most powerful jobs were handed out yesterday.

But the 500million people who live in the EU were given no say in who got them.

Instead, Europe's elite chose the winners of this shabby lottery.

First in secretive meetings, then over a lavish feast, they thrashed out their sickening stitch-up. It was like the worst days of Soviet Russia.

And it exposed once again how this discredited European empire is rotten to the core. [Source: The Sun] Graeme Wilson | Friday, November 20, 2009

Ashton: 'I Am Best Person for EU Foreign Job'
BBC: Baroness Ashton has hit back at claims she does not have enough experience for the post of EU high representative for Foreign Affairs and security.

The Labour peer was the surprise choice of Europe's leaders for the role - dubbed the first EU foreign minister.

Lady Ashton told the BBC that EU leaders were "comfortable" with her appointment - and that she will show she is "the best person for the job". >>> | Friday, November 20, 2009

Last Night's Menu
Dinner menu: The Sun

Le Belge Van Rompuy va présider l'Europe
LE FIGARO: À 62 ans, le premier ministre belge, qui prendra ses fonctions à la tête de l'Union le 1er janvier, est un homme discret, rompu à l'art du consensus.

Les Vingt-Sept ont préféré le consensus au panache. À l'issue d'un sommet rondement mené, le Belge Herman Van Rompuy a été désigné jeudi premier président du Conseil européen, et la Britannique Catherine Ashton devient quasi-ministre des Affaires étrangères au poste de haut représentant.

Déjouant les pronostics de négociations à rallonges, les chefs d'État et de gouvernement ont prouvé leur capacité à s'entendre sur le visage de la future Europe. Il n'est pas sûr pourtant que leur double choix fasse rêver. Les deux lauréats sont des figures nouvelles sur la scène internationale et ont pleinement bénéficié des tractations entre grandes capitales qui peinaient à trouver un dénominateur commun.

Van Rompuy a réuni le soutien annoncé de Paris et Berlin. De son côté, le premier ministre Gordon Brown «a joué un jeu superbement machiavélique», soulignait-on de source diplomatique. Les Britanniques, qui soutenaient vent debout la candidature de Tony Blair pour la présidence, ont accepté de le lâcher en échange du poste de haut représentant. David Miliband, candidat idéal, n'a finalement pas sauté le pas. C'est donc Catherine Ashton, commissaire européenne au Commerce mais novice en politique internationale, qui s'est retrouvée, à 53 ans, propulsée au premier plan, dans un contexte porteur pour les femmes. Il ne lui manque à présent que la confirmation du Parlement.

L'hypothèse Blair étant levée, la voie était aussi ouverte pour Van Rompuy, qui représente l'antithèse du flamboyant Britannique. À 62 ans, le premier ministre belge a su s'imposer par sa maîtrise des dossiers et son art du consensus dans le sac de nœud de la politique belge. Des talents qu'il compte transposer au niveau européen lorsqu'il prendra ses fonctions, le 1er janvier : «Une négociation avec des vaincus est toujours une mauvaise négociation», a-t-il affirmé jeudi. Originaire d'un pays fondateur de l'Europe, conservateur comme la majorité des pays au Conseil, il parle français et cultive la discrétion - un avantage pour les grands pays qui craignaient d'envoyer à Bruxelles une diva leur faisant de l'ombre. «Celui qui sera appelé, c'est celui qui parle pour l'Europe» >>> Claire Gallen, à Bruxelles | Vendredi 20 Novembre 2009

Europas neue Spitze: Die wahren Entscheider bleiben andere
ZEIT ONLINE: Geschmeidig, effizient, möglichst lautlos: Die Berufung von Ashton und Van Rompuy zeigt, wie sich die EU ihr Spitzenpersonal vorstellt. Eine wichtige Chance wurde vertan.

Man reibt sich verwundert die Augen. Der Belgier Herman Van Rompuy und die Britin Catherine Ashton – sie bilden Europas neues Spitzenduo. Es gibt wahrscheinlich außerhalb der kundigen Brüsseler Zirkel nur wenige, die mit den beiden Namen etwas anfangen können. Es hat schon eine besondere Ironie: Ausgerechnet zwei Politiker, die dem Publikum weitgehend unbekannt sind, sollen der Europäischen Union nun ein Gesicht verleihen.

Der neue EU-Ratspräsident Van Rompuy und die künftige "EU-Außenministerin" Catherine Ashton haben den Segen der europäischen Staats- und Regierungschefs bekommen. Die Autorität, die sich mit ihren Ämtern verbindet, werden sie sich allerdings erst noch erarbeiten müssen. Denn sie treten ihre Posten unter einem schlechten Vorzeichen an: Sie sind der kleinste gemeinsame Nenner im europäischen Posten-Poker.

Es ist kein Zufall, dass sich der EU-Gipfel bei der Besetzung der neuen europäischen Spitzenämter ausgerechnet auf zwei Politiker geeinigt hat, die in der Europapolitik noch wenig von sich reden machten. Gefangen im Parteien- und Geschlechterproporz, bemüht um den Ausgleich zwischen großen und kleinen EU-Staaten, fanden Angela Merkel, Nicolas Sarkozy, Gordon Brown und die übrigen europäischen Staatenlenker eine Lösung, die niemandem weh tut, vor allem ihnen selbst nicht. Sie sind die wahren Entscheider in der EU – und wollen es auch bleiben. >>> Zeit Online, Tagesspiegel | Freitag, 20. November 2009

Herman Van Rompuy and Baroness Ashton Land Top EU Jobs
THE TEEGRAPH: Herman Van Rompuy and Baroness Ashton have been named the European Union's new president and foreign minister.

Herman Van Rompuy, left, and Baroness Ashton are the EU's new president and foreign minister. Photo: The Telegraph
They wouldn’t win a beauty contest between them, but, apparently, they have won the race to become EU president and EU foreign minister. Good wishes to both. – Mark
The little-known Belgian federalist and the Labour peer who has never held elected office were selected at a meeting in Brussels.

EU leaders chose the Belgian prime minister as the first President of the European Council. Britain's European Trade Commissioner was made the High Representative for Foreign Affairs.

The surprise combination emerged after Gordon Brown ended Tony Blair's hopes of becoming president, abandoning his support for his successor and proposing Baroness Ashton for the foreign job instead.

The Prime Minister's switch surprised European leaders, not least because of Baroness Ashton's lack of diplomatic experience.

A former health authority chairwoman made a peer in 1999, she held a string of low-key ministerial posts until last year when she was sent to Brussels as an interim replacement for Lord Mandelson on his return to the Cabinet.

Mr Van Rompuy is a poetry-writing economist almost entirely unknown outside Belgium until he emerged as EU leaders' choice for a president who could not possibly overshadow national leaders.

A staunch advocate of European integration, he has backed policies including a European-wide tax on all financial transactions to fund EU work. >>> James Kirkup and Bruno Waterfield in Brussels | Thursday, November 19, 2009

Tony Blair Dumped as Baroness Ashton of Upholland Gets Key EU Role
TIMES ONLINE: The EU appointed Herman Van Rompuy, the Belgian Prime Minister, and the British Trade Commissioner, Baroness Ashton of Upholland, to the two newly created posts of President and High Representative tonight, hours after Downing Street confirmed it had abandoned its support for Tony Blair.

Gordon Brown joined the seven other European socialist group leaders in backing Mr Van Rompuy and Lady Ashton after accepting that there was too little support for Mr Blair to be president.

Downing Street's U-turn was a humiliating snub to Mr Blair, Mr Brown's predecessor, who had hoped to take the plum role, but was opposed by key EU leaders who feared he would be too presidential. >>> Jenny Mills, Philip Webster and David Charter | Thursday, November 19, 2009

NZZ ONLINE: EU-Spitzenposten für Van Rompuy und Ashton: Staatschefs der Europäischen Union einig >>> sda | Donnerstag, 19. November 2009

NZZ ONLINE: Porträt von Herman Van Rompuy – Bekannt im eigenen Land als Streitschlichter: Herman Van Rompuy wird erster EU-Ratspräsident >>> sda/afp/dpa/apa | Donnerstag, 19. November 2009

NZZ ONLINE: Biographie von Catherine Ashton – Geschickte Verhandlungsführerin: Britische Ökonomin Ashton wird neue EU-«Aussenministerin» >>> sda/afp/apa | Donnerstag, 19. November 2009

LE FIGARO: Les Vingt-Sept donnent un président à l'Europe >>> Claire Gallen, Bruxelles | Jeudi 19 Novembre 2009

Italy's Foreign Minister Says Post-Lisbon EU Needs a European Army
Mr Frattini said the experience of Afghanistan strengthened the 'necessary objective' of a Europe-wide army. Photo: Times Online
TIMES ONLINE: Italy is to push for the creation of a European Army after the "new Europe" takes shape at this week's crucial EU summit following the adoption of the Lisbon Treaty.

Franco Frattini, the Italian Foreign Minister, said that the Lisbon Treaty had established "that if some countries want to enter into reinforced co-operation between themselves they can do so". This was already the case with the euro and the Schengen accords on frontier-free travel, and could now be applied to "common European defence".

In an interview with The Times at his office in the monumental marble-halled Foreign Ministry on the banks of the Tiber, Mr Frattini said: "We have finally concluded a never-ending story". The Lisbon Treaty, which comes into force in December, will be sealed on Thursday with an EU summit to choose an EU President and Foreign Minister.

He warned that "if we do not find a common foreign policy, there is the risk that Europe will become irrelevant. We will be bypassed by the G2 of America and China, which is to say the Pacific axis, and the Atlantic axis will be forgotten. We need political will and commitment, otherwise the people of Europe will be disillusioned and disappointed. People expect a great deal of us. After Lisbon we have no more alibis". >>> Richard Owen in Rome | Sunday, November 15, 2009

EU Ponders New President, Foreign Minister: After Ireland's Vote, Many See Top Post Going to Tony Blair
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: BRUSSELS -- The Irish answer to the Lisbon Treaty formally opens the gates to the politically charged business of choosing Europe's first-ever president and foreign minister of the assembly of the European Union's 27 member governments.

For weeks, pundits and politicians have been handicapping the field, with former British prime minister Tony Blair emerging as the man to beat, although his candidacy faces some high hurdles.

The Lisbon Treaty calls for the two new posts to be chosen by national leaders and confirmed by the European Parliament. Inevitably, their selection will be part of a continental horse-trading game involving other IOUs among nations, and plum positions in the European Commission, the EU's executive branch.

Mr. Blair could give Europe a famous face and a connection to elites everywhere. As a left-of-center politician from Northern Europe, he offers political and geographical balance to the EU commission president, José Manuel Barroso, a Portuguese conservative. Mr. Barroso, a consensus-builder who doesn't ruffle many feathers, was reappointed to a five-year term this summer.

France regards Mr. Blair as a candidate who has "all the credentials," said a spokesman for French President Nicolas Sarkozy. German Chancellor Angela Merkel endorses the notion of a powerful personality as president, says a person familiar with her thinking. However, Ms. Merkel is concerned that Mr. Blair might not be acceptable to the European Parliament, the person said.

Other factors could cripple Mr. Blair's candidacy, say government officials in several EU countries. Mr. Sarkozy and Ms. Merkel -- who have the greatest weight in the voting -- could decide they don't want the high-profile Briton overshadowing them. Mr. Blair is known in Brussels for propelling the Iraq war, which is still very unpopular in Europe. >>> John W. Miller. Quentin Fottrell and David Gauthier-Villars contributed to this article. | Monday, October 05, 2009

Avigdor Lieberman - Branded Arab-hating Racist - Set to Be Israeli Foreign Minister
Photo of Avigdor Lieberman courtesy of TimesOnline
TIMESONLINE: Israel's next foreign minister looks set to be Avigdor Lieberman, the Soviet immigrant whose controversial policies have been condemned widely by the country's regional neighbours. His critics accuse him of being an Arab-hating racist but he is hailed by supporters as a strongman who will deal harshly with the state's enemies, in particular Iran, which he has threatened to bomb.

Mr Lieberman has threatened to bomb a number of Israel's neighbours, including Egypt, with whom the Jewish state has a peace treaty. During a parliamentary debate last year Mr Lieberman also criticised Hosni Mubarak, Egypt's President, for never visiting the Jewish state.

Egypt was the first country yesterday to warn that the appointment could cause more setbacks for the peace process. “We are standing before a negative factor that is likely to damage the peace process,”Ahmad Abul Ghait, the Foreign Minister, said during a visit to the European parliament.

The appointment appeared to be on track though after Mr Lieberman's Yisrael Beitenu party, which came third in February's elections, cut a deal with Likud to form a coalition.

Under the agreement Yisrael Beitenu would receive five ministerial posts, including the Foreign Ministry, which its leader is set to take. >>> James Hider in Jerusalem | Tuesday, March 17, 2009

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Far-right Party in Israel Coalition
DAILY EXPRESS: Israeli Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud Party has signed a coalition agreement with a far-right party.

The deal means that Avigdor Lieberman, who heads the right-wing Yisrael Beitenu party, would become Israel's foreign minister.



He has drawn accusations of racism for proposing that Israel's Arab citizens sign loyalty oaths or lose their citizenship. 



Although that plan is not likely to be implemented, his designation as foreign minister could harm Israel's international ties. 



The European Union urged Netanyahu to craft a government that embraces the long-standing goal of an independent Palestinian state living side by side with Israel.

 Lieberman as foreign minister could be seen in Europe as a setback to Middle East peace efforts. 



"Let me say very clearly that the way the European Union will relate to an (Israeli) government that is not committed to a two-state solution will be very, very different," Javier Solana, the EU's foreign and security affairs chief, said. >>> | Monday, March 16, 2009

leJDD.fr: Netanyahou serre à droite

Le Likoud est parvenu à un accord avec le parti d'extrême-droite Israël Beitenou, en vue de la formation d'un gouvernement d'union en Israël. Benjamin Netanyahou devrait confier le portefeuille des Affaires étrangères à Avigdor Lieberman. Même s'il faudra d'autres alliés pour s'assurer d'une majorité stable à la Knesset, le prochain gouvernement israélien penchera fortement à droite.

C'était écrit. Le prochain gouvernement israélien serait à droite ou ne serait pas. L'accord conclu dimanche à minuit entre le Likoud de Benjamin Netanyahou et Israël Beitenou, le parti d'extrême droite dirigé par Avigdor Lieberman, signe le virage à droite du paysage politique israélien même s'il faudra d'autres alliances pour s'assurer d'une majorité à la Knesset où siègent les députés. Avec 42 sièges sur 120, la coalition Likoud-Beitenou est en effet encore loin de la majorité absolue des 61 sièges. Mais cet accord signé à l'arraché dimanche soir, après des heures d'âpres négociations, est une première étape d'importance pour Benjamin Netanyahou qui ne dispose plus que de quelques jours pour présenter son gouvernement au président Shimon Pérès. La porte reste ouverte à Kadima... >>> Par Jérôme GUILLAS, leJDD.fr | Lundi 16 Mars 2009

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