The Ashton mistake?

(BRUXELLES2, commentary) Gérard Longuet's latest outing (read: A missile from Paris is pointing at Ashton) is revealing. It is difficult today to find someone who is satisfied and happy with the work carried out by Catherine Ashton. To sum up, there are those who have opened it, those who are opening it and those who are going to open it. Between those who say nothing and quietly grumble in their corner and those who groan dryly, no one or almost really defends the High Representative of the EU. And if I had - on this blog - to pass on what everyone comments and says - often at the highest level of ministries or administrations, I would have to open a daily section 🙂 and do only that.

Of course, we could claim that there is jealousy, that the Member States are never happy,... Admittedly, there is a bit of that. But, let's be honest, there is a real "Ashton" problem today on Defense especially. Even those who supported her candidacy - because she was a woman or a socialist -, who do not expect any position or function, cannot help but be annoyed. Because it is a fact. For more than 18 months since the High Representative of the EU was appointed, apart from one or two foreign policy moves (Benghazi, Serbia and Kosovo, etc.), we do not feel any impetus, any initiative in the field of common defense policy. On the contrary, there is rather a slow disintegration.

It's not just a matter of communication or know-how, it's a real problem. As an old wolf in foreign affairs, who comes from the same (socialist) party as Ashton and is neither French, nor Belgian or Italian, comments, " Ashton, she should have learned first. (…) He is the worst person we currently have in the European leadership” Close the ban.

The fact remains that now, no one is ready to take the risk of triggering a crisis. " We are not going to reopen Pandora's box of nominations. We have to last another 3 and a half years “says our observer. The High Representative is in fact “holding” several of the Member States a few “gift” nominations which are mobilizing a lot of attention in the capitals. Result: The skirmishes and scratches will continue. Because there is a real Ashton problem that remains...