Ashton Draws Mixed Reactions at European Parliament

Catherine Ashton. Vice-President and High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, on Monday drew a mixed response from the different parties in the European Parliament after she testified at the Foreign Affairs Committee. Also read: bit.ly 00:00’29″Catherine ASHTON, High Representative for CFSP and European Commission Vice President designate, in English, I will be accountable to this House where ever the Treaty has provided for it” 00:00’33″Members of this House I see this as a unique moment in Europe’s journey. Above all, a moment of opportunity. We need to be ambitious and results oriented” 00:00’44″I do accept that this is important that in the course of their work, those Senior diplomats, as they will be, are able to come to the Parliament. So we need a further conversation about that, I am not convinced about the idea of hearings 00:00’59″”how we develop our relations with NATO are very important…..In terms of a single command structure, I remain to be convinced on that” 00:01’25″in terms of Afghanistan, I was present when General Mc Crystal presented his ideas at the meeting with NATO and you would know what the President of the US has already said in that context; the critical area for us is to bring on the ground what we do more effectively and see how best we can support the population centred approach” 00:01’53″”it is absolutely vital that we get progress on the Middle East to end up with the two States that exist, and the State …