C. Ashton “brushes” the meeting of Defense Ministers

Catherine Ashton will not appear in the family photo of European Defense Ministers, Wednesday and Thursday, in Palma de Mallorca (Spain). This time it's confirmed. The High Representative of the EU will not even be there dotted. She won't be there...
all !

The diary has a good back... « A matter of scheduling. She already has appointments scheduled explains blandly, a spokesperson for the Commission, rather embarrassed at the corners (1). The High Representative is due to be in Moscow on Wednesday and kyiv on Thursday for the Ukrainian President's swearing-in ceremony (2). And why not a trek with the King of Bhutan?

This is a first in the history of the EU! Javier Solana, his predecessor, for ten years, never missed these meetings which are not so numerous (one per semester!). On the contrary. He took a certain interest in it. Even if, sometimes, some of them may seem a little boring (it must be admitted), they are always the occasion for (informal) discussions, contacts, private meetings with not only the Ministers, but also the heads of EU operations or the director of the Defense Agency, who are present. These exchanges make it possible to understand the national points of view, the points of consensus, to be able to push forward on subjects. It is often on this occasion that projects have been built up, future operations prepared, files released... Some managers are not mistaken. NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen will thus be present from Wednesday evening and will remain there on Thursday. The guest of honor in a way! The Libyan Minister of Defense should also come for a 5+5 meeting (Mediterranean countries).

A political blunder, worse a fault Professional... The absence is not only a bad symbol for the CFSP, it is also a notable political blunder for the High Representative, even a breach of the rules of the Lisbon Treaty. In short, professional misconduct! It was the first meeting of EU Defense Ministers as the new High Representative for Catherine Ashton. The first meeting also under the system required by the Lisbon Treaty, which intends to give greater importance to the common defense policy, by implementing various new instruments (3). Need we add that the "EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Common Security Policy"has, in terms of defence, a clearly defined leadership role, of which it has exclusive rights (4).

Uninformed capitals. Apparently the capitals were not really informed of this decision until very late, if at all. Even today, the German Ministry of Defense mentioned the trip of the German Minister Zu Gutenberg to Palma de Mallorca to listen to the report of the High Representative on the operations of the EU... It is likely to be, very, very disappointed ! (cf.  German minister's website).

A real problem of responsibility. Now it is clear. The High Representative of the EU does not care about the common defense policy... and intends to devote the minimum attention and time possible to it. Today there is a "serious" problem of leadership at the head of European defense policy, or even foreign policy in general. So much so that we can now ask ourselves the question: is Mrs Ashton competent to exercise the task of High Representative and Vice-President of the Commission for five years? Or should it not be "assigned" to another function. This question will normally have to be raised and discussed in the European Parliament and at the next European Summit.

(1) Slightly muddy explanation. This meeting has been on the European agenda for about a year.
(2) Download the press release from the High Representative: Catherine Ashton to participate in EU-Russia ministerial meeting in Moscow and the inauguration ceremony of President-elect Yanukovich in kyiv (need it be said that Ukraine is more the responsibility of Stefan Füle, the European Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighborhood Policy)
(3) read: Lisbon Treaty: ESDP becomes PeSDC. A little more common?
(4) read: The functions and powers of the High Representative, according to the Treaty of Lisbon