The absence of Africa

(BRUSSELS2) Part of the European Commission is traveling to Addis Ababa today and tomorrow for a meeting with the African Union Commission. With an essential subject on the table: peace and security in Africa. In the European delegation, a remarkable absentee, or rather an absence, Catherine Ashton, who is however the Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of the coordination of external aid.

Question “ timetable " apparently. The interested party has scheduled a trip to China and Mongolia. Land of the future if there is one, and of contrasts, could even add the tourist catalogs. It prevents. It is also on the African continent today where the main security and foreign policy challenges for the European Union are. Apparently, this absence does not really bother many people at the Berlaymont headquarters of the European Commission. " But the President of the Commission is there I was told. The main thing is safe... And it doesn't matter that the new version of the European organization put in place by the Treaty of Lisbon wants the Vice-President/High Representative to coordinate the Union's foreign policy. It's a detail, no doubt...

On the other hand, when Switzerland, although closely associated with the European Union through various agreements, and economically integrated into the EU, decides not to respect certain rules on the free movement of workers, who reacts. The High Representative, C. Ashton. Find the mistake ! No there is not. Because the High Representative also has Switzerland in her portfolio. Apparently no one wanted it.

The logic of European absurdity has struck again!