A Foreign Affairs Council without minutes, press conference canceled

(In Luxembourg) Amazing! While Europe is finally finding its single voice with the diplomatic service, the Foreign Affairs Council is now experiencing a lack of voice... The press conference which traditionally closes each Council did not take place and allows the press to knowing the main decisions such as asking questions was simply suppressed on October 25 in Luxembourg. The High Representative, Catherine Ashton, particularly in a bad mood, agreed only to answer a few questions, outside, in the cold in a "doorstep" which is usually the formula reserved for the arrival of personalities and not at the start. As the presidency of the Council is ensured by the High Representative and by no one else, there was thus nothing or almost nothing. It is as if the 27 ministers had not met. Bernard Kouchner, the French minister, moreover followed the example given "upstairs" and slipped away on tiptoe, dodging the journalists, and simply sending them "kisses"... from afar.

Why this rush? Admittedly, the Council had fallen behind. But we have seen others. In fact, the High Representative had a "good" excuse. She had to attend a solemn session of the European Court of Justice (which sits three steps from the fairgrounds instead of the Council of Ministers in Luxembourg), to take the oath as European Commissioner. A formality that she had not been able to achieve so far. " A formula that is not mandatory but has become a tradition as recalled by the President of the Court, Vassilios Skouris. The swearing in itself only lasted a few minutes. But Cathy Ashton had to stay for the entire session, which lasted nearly an hour... Hard, life as a High Representative/Vice President of the European Commission!