The very British vision of Catherine Ashton on European defense

(BRUSSELS2) If Catherine Ashton, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs, has on the whole passed the ramp of her great oral with MEPs; on the other hand, on Defense Europe, it looks more like a disaster. THE "clear progress", observed in general, is not so on this subject. A sign?

Unless I'm a British Tory, I haven't found any elected official who specializes in this issue who hasn't been "surprised", "disappointed", "alarm","disaster"by Ashton's answers on the question, his lack of knowledge and especially of appetite for the subject. In fact, to listen carefully to Catherine Ashton, Defense Europe is above all the Member States and, above all , NATO and the United States A very British vision (1), in fact, of European Defense, which does not seem to me to be very suited today to the new global challenges.

A thought guided by the transatlantic tropism. On several occasions, Catherine Ashton has thus highlighted NATO when someone spoke to her about foreign policy or common security and defense policy. « Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Middle East, Somalia, Yemen are clearly my top priorities she clarified. A very American catalog can we judge. Neither the Congo, nor Chad or Sudan, nor Georgia or Transnistria, yet equally important issues for Europe, are cited, and so on. And to add as proof of his activity: I took part in the NATO meeting which enabled me to meet Rasmussen. I have to go to Washington to meet Hillary Clinton” (a reference that she repeats several times). As for Richard Holbrooke (2), he seems to have become her mentor: she spoke " Many times with him on the phone. ThisNATO and American ropism can be understood. It was necessary to give some pledges to the Tory and Ukip opponents who accused him of being in the pay of Moscow for having campaigned - 28 years ago! - at the CND, an organization against disarmament. And, after all, Ashton is British through and through (3). She still remains convinced of the effectiveness of the intervention in Iraq (and has affirmed it). But that does not justify a kind of caution or even distrust vis-à-vis the Europe of defence.

NATO has the answer to everything, Ashton has the answer to nothing... On all sorts of issues, instead of highlighting the possible developments of defense Europe, Catherine Ashton seemed to promote more the need for a " pragmatic (strategic) partnership with NATO and the need to strengthen the transatlantic link. Thus, to the question on the future of the European Defense Agency and its role in strengthening the European defense industry, Catherine Ashton replied that it was not a question of " withdraw tasks from the Member States”. There are also ceducation and research competences at the European Commission she added. And to add pronto " that she wanted to develop relations with NATO and with its Secretary General to see how to move forward ". That was not the question! On the existence of a European military headquarters? it was even clearer: " she is not convinced ". Why ? The defense "cis also the job of the Member States ". And then to specify, citing the example of the Atalanta anti-piracy operation in the Indian Ocean, " the HQ in Northwood works well ». On the training operation for Somali soldiers, she did not want to comment, preferring to explain that it was necessary " develop the country "...

An ignorance of defense. In terms of defense policy, Ashton's hearing was also a festival of lack of culture. On the Defense White Paper, she claimed she was unaware and would find out!. Ditto for the presence in the UN Security Council, " you took me by surprise, I do not know she argues. " to be honest, for 5 weeks since I was nominated, I didn't even think about it » Mind blowing! His questioner, Mauro, an Italian EPP answers him, in his beard: " next time I will ask you the name of your hairdresser! ". On the solidarity and mutual assistance clause, no response. On the role of the EU in Transnistria, the extension of the mandate of the anti-piracy operation Atalanta to illegal fishing, idem, she does not answer. Etc...

In the end, we can only share this feeling of some deputies: of " serious shortcomings », even a serious worry » on his will
to move forward on the PeSDC.

(1) It is no coincidence that its chief of staff, James Morrison, comes directly from the Foreign Office. He notably officiated at the Permanent Representation of the United Kingdom in Brussels during the last British presidency (2005) as head of the team presidency in charge of Asian, UN and G8 issues.

(2) Holbrooke, ambassador to the UN from 1999 to 2001, was one of the negotiators of the Dayton peace plan on Bosnia (1995). He was appointed by the Obama administration, in January 2009, special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan.

(3) This role is entrusted, in black and white, to the High Representative in the Treaty. Read: the role of the High Representative, according to the Treaty of Lisbon