Catherine Ashton

Last updated

Peter Kellner
​
(m. 1988)​
The Right Honourable
The Baroness Ashton of Upholland
LG GCMG PC
Official portrait of Baroness Ashton of Upholland crop 2, 2024.jpg
Official portrait, 2024
Chancellor of the University of Warwick
Incumbent
Assumed office
1 January 2017
Education Bedford College, London

Catherine Margaret Ashton, Baroness Ashton of Upholland, LG , GCMG , PC (born 20 March 1956) is a British Labour politician who served as the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and First Vice President of the European Commission in the Barroso Commission from 2009 to 2014.

Contents

Her political career began in 1999 when she was created a life peer as Baroness Ashton of Upholland, of St Albans in the County of Hertfordshire , [2] by Tony Blair's Labour government. She became the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department for Education and Skills in 2001 and subsequently in the Ministry of Justice in 2004. She was appointed a Privy Counsellor in May 2006 and Lady Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter in April 2023. [3]

Ashton became Leader of the House of Lords and Lord President of the Council in Gordon Brown's first Cabinet in June 2007. She was instrumental in steering the EU's Treaty of Lisbon through the UK Parliament's upper chamber. In 2008, she was appointed as the British European Commissioner and became the Commissioner for Trade in the European Commission. [4]

In December 2009, she became the inaugural High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy that was created by the Treaty of Lisbon. As High Representative, Ashton served as the EU's foreign policy chief. [5] Despite being criticised by some, particularly at the time of her appointment and in the early stages of her term of office, for her limited previous experience of international diplomacy, Ashton subsequently won praise for her work as a negotiator in difficult international situations, in particular for her role in bringing Serbia and Kosovo to an agreement in April 2013 that normalised their ties, and in the P5+1 talks with Iran which led to the November 2013 Geneva interim agreement on the Iranian nuclear programme. [6]

In January 2017, Ashton became Chancellor of the University of Warwick, succeeding Sir Richard Lambert and becoming Warwick's first female chancellor. [7]

Early life

Catherine Ashton was born at Upholland, Lancashire, on 20 March 1956. [8] [9] She comes from a working-class family, with a background in coal mining. [10] [11]

Ashton attended Upholland Grammar School in Billinge Higher End, Lancashire, then Wigan Mining and Technical College, Wigan. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology in 1977 from Bedford College, London (now part of Royal Holloway, University of London). Ashton was the first person in her family to attend university. [10] [11] [12] [13] [14]

Career

United Kingdom

Between 1977 and 1983, Ashton worked for the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) as an administrator and in 1982 was elected as its national treasurer and subsequently as one of its vice-chairs. From 1979 to 1981 she was business manager of the Coverdale Organisation, a management consultancy. [15] [16]

As of 1983 she worked for the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work. [17] From 1983 to 1989 she was director of Business in the Community, working with business to tackle inequality, and she established the Employers' Forum on Disability, Opportunity Now, and the Windsor Fellowship. [18] For most of the 1990s, she was a freelance policy adviser. [13] [19] She chaired the Health Authority in Hertfordshire from 1998 to 2001 and she became a vice-president of the National Council for One-Parent Families. [20]

She was created a Labour Life Peer as Baroness Ashton of Upholland in 1999, under Prime Minister Tony Blair. In June 2001 she was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department for Education and Skills. In 2002 she became Minister responsible for Sure Start in the same department, and in September 2004 she was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary in the Department for Constitutional Affairs, with responsibilities including the National Archives and the Public Guardianship Office. Ashton was sworn of the Privy Council in 2006, and she became Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the new Ministry of Justice in May 2007. [21]

In 2005 she was voted "Minister of the Year" by The House magazine and "Peer of the Year" by Channel 4. In 2006 she won the "Politician of the Year" award at the annual Stonewall Awards, made to those who had a positive impact on the lives of British LGBT people. [22]

On 28 June 2007, Prime Minister Gordon Brown appointed Ashton to HM Cabinet as Leader of the House of Lords and Lord President of the Council. [23] As Government Leader in the House of Lords, she was responsible for steering the Lisbon Treaty through the Upper House. [24]

European Union

On 3 October 2008, Ashton was nominated by the UK to replace Peter Mandelson as the European Commissioner for Trade. [4] Because European Commissioners may not engage in any other occupation during their term of office, whether gainful or not, [25] she used the procedural device previously adopted in 1984 by Lord Cockfield [26] and took a leave of absence from the House of Lords on 14 October 2008, [27] retaining her peerage but not her seat. [28]

During her term, Ashton represented the EU in negotiations related to a long-running dispute over beef with the United States (May 2009), [29] led the EU delegation in an agreement with South Korea that removed virtually all tariffs between the two economies (October 2009) [30] [31] [32] and represented the EU in ending a long-running dispute over banana imports, principally involving Latin America and the EU. [33]

Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

Ashton with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton AshtonClinton.jpg
Ashton with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton

On 19 November 2009, Ashton was appointed the EU's first High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security policy. Her appointment was agreed at a summit by 27 European Union leaders in Brussels. Having initially pushed for former British Prime Minister Tony Blair to become President of the European Council, Gordon Brown eventually relented on the condition that the post of High Representative be awarded to a Briton. [34] [35]

Ashton's relative obscurity prior to her appointment prompted comment in the media. The Guardian newspaper reported that her appointment as High Representative had received a "cautious welcome... from international relations experts". [36] The Economist described her as being a virtual unknown with paltry political experience, having no foreign-policy background and never having been elected to anything. The magazine credited her, however, with piloting the Lisbon Treaty through the House of Lords, handling the European Commission's Trade Portfolio without disagreement with her colleagues, and being suited to consensus-building. [37]

Critics predicted she would be out of her depth. Nile Gardiner of The Heritage Foundation, who opposed a European Union role in foreign and security policy on principle, [38] wrote in The Daily Telegraph "This may well be the most ridiculous appointment in EU history". [39] Daniel Hannan, a British Conservative MEP, complained that she had "no background in trade issues at a time when the EU is engaged in critical negotiations with Canada, Korea and the WTO". [40] The Guardian quoted an anonymous Whitehall source as commenting "Cathy just got lucky...The appointment of her and Herman Van Rompuy European Council president was a complete disgrace. They are no more than garden gnomes." [9]

By contrast, former Home Secretary Charles Clarke said: "I have seen Cathy in action. I have great respect for her. She is excellent at building good relations with people and a good negotiator". Shami Chakrabarti, the director of Liberty, a human-rights pressure group, said: "people underestimate Cathy at their peril. She is not a great big bruiser. She is a persuader and a charmer. That is the secret of her success." [9]

After a confirmation hearing by the Trade Committee of the European Parliament, Ashton was approved by the Parliament on 22 October 2008 by 538 to 40 votes, with 63 abstentions. [41] She took office on 1 December 2009 for a five-year-term.

She was appointed Dame Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG) in the 2015 New Year Honours List for services to the European Common Foreign and Security Policy. [42] [43]

Notable events of her term as High Representative

Ashton and Iranian foreign minister Javad Zarif, the first round of Comprehensive agreement on Iranian nuclear programme, February 2014 2014-02-18 Irankonferenz (12610684674).jpg
Ashton and Iranian foreign minister Javad Zarif, the first round of Comprehensive agreement on Iranian nuclear programme, February 2014

Notable events of her term included:

  • Establishing the European External Action Service (1 December 2010), which merged the external relations departments of the European Commission and the Council of the European Union, and was to have diplomats seconded from national foreign services. Throughout the first half of 2010 Ashton sought agreement between the Council, the Parliament and the Commission over the shape of the EEAS. Parliament agreed to the plan on 8 July, when MEPs approved the service by 549 votes for and 78 against with 17 abstentions. The Council approved the transfer of departments to the EAS on 20 July. Until the EEAS became operational, Ashton had been supported by a staff of about 30 people. [44]
  • Working with EU Special Representative Alexander Rondos to head Operation Atalanta: an EU military action off the coast of Somalia, which curtailed piracy (May 2012). [45] [46]
  • Helping to reach a deal [47] between Serbia and Kosovo that normalised their ties (April 2013). [48] [49] [50]
  • Successfully negotiating with the Egyptian Army a visit to the deposed president, Mohamed Morsi, in their custody. [51] She reported that he was in good health and was well treated and aware of current affairs. (July 2013.) [52] [53]
  • Chairmanship of the P5+1 in their negotiations with Iran on nuclear matters in 2013, which led to the Geneva interim agreement on the Iranian nuclear programme (November 2013). [6] [54]
  • Her visit to Kyiv during Ukraine's Euromaidan protests. [55]

Serbia-Kosovo

In April 2013, after two years of negotiations, the governments of Serbia and Kosovo reached agreement to normalise their relations. Although Serbia did not formally recognise Kosovo as an independent state, it did "in effect – concede that the government in Pristina has legal authority over the whole territory, including Serb-majority areas of northern Kosovo". [56] In return, Kosovo agreed to grant a degree of autonomy to four Serb-majority areas. The agreement, which among other things removed obstacles to Serbia and Kosovo joining the European Union, followed Ashton's mediation of ten rounds of talks between Serbia's Prime Minister, Ivica Dacic, and Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci. A cross-party committee of the U.S. House of Representatives nominated Ashton and her fellow negotiators Dacic and Thaci for the Nobel Peace Prize. [57] A similar nomination came from the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament [58]

Iran

After the November 2013 negotiation of an interim agreement with Iran over its nuclear programme, the Financial Times wrote that Ashton was "no longer the diplomatic dilettante". A senior French diplomat was quoted as saying, "I tip my hat to her.... She truly played a decisive role". The report continued that, after initially insisting on negotiating only with other foreign ministers, by the latter stages of the negotiations the Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif "now... wanted to deal only with Lady Ashton". Said a western diplomat, "That the others agreed to this was significant. For China and Russia to be outside while she was in the room negotiating details was quite remarkable". [59]

Ukraine

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry with Ashton, Munich, 1 February 2014 Secretary Kerry Shakes Hands With EU High Representative Ashton Before Meeting in Munich (12252836383).jpg
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry with Ashton, Munich, 1 February 2014

In December 2013 Ashton visited Kyiv. She said she was impressed by the "determination of Ukrainians demonstrating for the European perspective of their country" and observed "with sadness that police used force to remove peaceful people from the center of Kyiv... Dialogue with political forces and society and the use of arguments is always better than the argument of force". [55] Subsequently, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin criticised Ashton's categorisation of the anti-government protests in Kyiv as peaceful in nature, pointing to the death of a number of police officers. [60]

At the beginning of March a recording of a conversation between Ashton and the Estonian foreign minister Urmas Paet was released. In the call, Paet said he had been told by a woman doctor named Olga that snipers responsible for killing police and civilians in Kyiv last month were protest movement provocateurs rather than supporters of then-president Viktor Yanukovych. Ashton responds: "I didn't know … Gosh." "So there is a stronger and stronger understanding that behind snipers it was not Yanukovych, it was somebody from the new coalition", Paet says. Ashton replies: "I think we do want to investigate. I didn't pick that up, that's interesting. Gosh", she says. The Estonian foreign ministry confirmed the accuracy of the leak but clarified that "Foreign Minister Paet was giving an overview of what he had heard in Kyiv and expressed concern over the situation on the ground. We reject the claim that Paet was giving an assessment of the opposition's involvement in the violence." [61] The woman doctor, Olga Bogomolets, said in an interview reported by Paul Waldie of The Globe and Mail that, in her conversation with the Estonian minister, "she did not indicate that protesters used snipers. She simply relayed to the Estonian minister what she saw that day – protesters shot in the head and heart. 'What I saw were people who were killed by snipers and only on [protesters'] side.'" [62]

On 28 March 2014 Ashton issued a news release condemning violence by members of the Ukrainian nationalist political party Right Sector, stating, "I strongly condemn the pressure by activists of the Right Sector who have surrounded the building of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. Such an intimidation of the parliament is against ... democratic principles and [the] rule of law. I call on the Right Sector and other parties in Ukraine to refrain from the use or threat of violence. They need to hand over any unauthorised arms to the authorities immediately." [63]

Russia

President Putin signed the new treason law on 12 November 2012. Ashton expressed concern at the new law "potentially penalizing contacts with foreign nationals with up to 20 years in prison" and reducing "the burden of proof for charges of treason and espionage". The United Nations Committee Against Torture stated that the new law could prohibit sharing information on the human rights situation in Russia with the United Nations human rights organs. According to Ashton, the March 2013 inspection wave in Russia seemed aimed at "undermining civil society activities". [64]

Egypt

Ashton condemned the "disproportionate" use of force by Egyptian security forces on August 14, 2013, when the security forces killed over 1000 people during the violent dispersal of mass anti-government sit-ins at Cairo's Rabaa al-Adawiya and al-Nahda squares. [65] [66]

Assessments

Ashton (far right) with the rest of the Quartet on the Middle East (2010) Mid East Quartet.jpg
Ashton (far right) with the rest of the Quartet on the Middle East (2010)
The European Commission, of which Catherine Ashton was Vice-President from 2010 to 2014 Belgique - Bruxelles - Schuman - Berlaymont - 01.jpg
The European Commission, of which Catherine Ashton was Vice-President from 2010 to 2014

Early phase as EU High Representative

Ashton was questioned by Members of the European Parliament in 2009 about her role as national treasurer in the British Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament in the 1980s, amid claims by its opponents that it may have had financial links to the Soviet Union. Ashton responded that she had not taken any "direct money from communist countries". Much of the organisation's funds had been "collected in buckets" at marches and demonstrations, she said, adding that she was the first to order an audit of CND's finances. [67] Her spokesman said: "She never visited the Soviet Union, she had no contacts with the Soviet Union and she never accepted money from Soviet sources ... She has never been a member of the Communist Party". [68]

In February 2010, Ashton was criticised within the EU community for not visiting Haiti in the wake of the 2010 Haiti earthquake. [69] A number of defence ministers reportedly also complained that she had not attended a European Defence Summit in Majorca. [70] More broadly, senior officials within her team were said to complain that she spoke only in "generalities". [69] A rumour that she switched off her phone after 8 pm every day was greeted by Ashton with ridicule. [71]

In February 2011, Ashton received the lowest grade in a survey rating the performance of European Commissioners. The survey, carried out by lobbying and PR company Burson-Marsteller, asked 324 Brussels policy-makers to rate the European Commissioners with a grade of A to E (A being the highest). Ashton scored an E for her performance, the only Commissioner to receive a grade below D. [72]

In March 2012, Ashton was criticised by Israeli politicians for comparing the shooting of Jewish children in Toulouse with the situation in Gaza. [73] [74] Ashton told Palestinian youths at a UNRWA event, "When we think of what happened in Toulouse today, when we remember what happened in Norway a year ago, when we know what is happening in Syria, when we see what is happening in Gaza and Sderot and in different parts of the world – we remember young people and children who lose their lives." [75] After she was quoted in the press as not having mentioned the Israeli city of Sderot, Israeli politicians denounced her for equating the murder of three children and a rabbi in the shooting attack with the situation in Gaza. Her spokesman stated that her remark had been "grossly distorted" and that she had also referenced Israeli victims in Sderot, but this fact had been omitted from the original transcript. [76] [77] [78]

Lady Ashton and Russian President Vladimir Putin, 3 June 2013 Catherine Ashton and Vladimir Putin 3 June 2013.jpeg
Lady Ashton and Russian President Vladimir Putin, 3 June 2013

In counterpoint to earlier criticism of Ashton for not travelling enough, in September 2012 The Daily Telegraph criticised her for not being present in Brussels for enough European Commission meetings, reporting that Ashton had missed 21 out of 32 regular weekly meetings held so far that year. To the paper's complaint that Ashton's absences were "leaving Britain without a voice" at such meetings, European diplomatic officials said that, under EU treaties, commissioners serve as representatives not of individual member countries but of the European interest. Ashton's staff also pointed to her personal involvement in nuclear negotiations with Iran as among the international responsibilities that had kept her away from Commission meetings. [79]

The Polish Minister for European and Economic Affairs, Mikolaj Dowgielewicz, stated in 2011 that criticism of Ashton was "a lot of hot air" and that "she has an impossible job to do and she is doing it well. At the end of her time in office, people will be more positive about what she has done. She will leave a real legacy." [80]

Ashton was said in February 2010 to be angry over what she perceived as the "latent sexism" among some of her European peers that underpinned some of the criticisms aimed at her. [69] She told the press that her work was sometimes hampered by the limited resources provided to her. She is not, for example, provided with her own aeroplane: something taken for granted by U.S. Secretaries of State. [81]

Later phase as EU High Representative

The tone of public comment on Ashton's performance in office was subsequently to be influenced especially by her contributions to negotiations over Kosovo and Iran. In October 2013, Der Spiegel wrote of her:

But now the 57-year-old baroness is suddenly at the center of world diplomacy. And whenever she is mentioned, she earns praise for her hard-nosed negotiating skills, her stamina and her diplomatic talents. It is said that U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has much faith in her. "She is discreet and perceptive, but also tenacious. That makes her an ideal negotiator", says Alexander Graf Lamsdorff, the head of Germany's business-friendly Free Democratic Party (FDP) in the European Parliament and a member of its Committee on Foreign Affairs. [82]

One of the critics of Ashton's appointment came to concede her effectiveness in office. In September 2013, Peter Oborne, the chief political commentator of The Daily Telegraph , wrote:

Well, let's admit we were all completely wrong. It is now obvious that Catherine Ashton has been a success. In her unobtrusive but determined way, she can boast real achievement. Last year a peace deal was struck between Serbia and Kosovo. Nobody had thought it possible. It was a massive step towards healing ancient hatreds and building economic prosperity. It was brokered by Baroness Ashton.... I have never met Baroness Ashton but I guess that one of her secrets is that she keeps her head down, does not flaunt her ego, and allows others to take the credit. It takes little imagination to envisage how a male politician from any of the main parties would have exploited the Kosovo peace-deal, or the Morsi visit. She just kept her head down and quietly got on with her job. [83]

In July 2014, as discussions took place on the selection of Ashton's successor, Paul Taylor of Reuters wrote in The New York Times , as part of a larger critique of the political nature of appointments to the European Commission:

While Ms. Ashton had some successes, brokering a first accord between Serbia and Kosovo and leading negotiations for an interim nuclear deal between Iran and world powers, critics say she has too often been missing in action closer to home. [84]

Reflecting on her record, in July 2014, Adam Boulton in the UK's Sunday Times concluded:

As the European Union's high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, Catherine Ashton still bestrides the international stage four years after Gordon Brown, the man who gave her the job, was expelled from the corridors of power. She was a surprise nominee to everyone including herself, and few would have expected then that her successor as Britain's commissioner would struggle to match Baroness Ashton in calibre and clout. [85]

Personal life

Ashton lives in London with her husband, Peter Kellner, the former president of the online polling organisation, YouGov.[ citation needed ] [86] Ashton and Kellner have been married since 1988. Ashton has two children and three stepchildren. [87]

Publications

Other activities

Catherine Ashton is a member of the Global Leadership Foundation, an organisation that works to support democratic leadership, prevent and resolve conflict through mediation and promote good governance in the form of democratic institutions, open markets, human rights and the rule of law. It does so by making available, discreetly and in confidence, the experience of former leaders to today's national leaders. It is a not-for-profit organisation composed of former heads of government, senior governmental and international organisation officials who work closely with heads of government on governance-related issues of concern to them.

She has been the Chancellor of the University of Warwick since 2016.

Honours and awards

Garter-encircled arms of Catherine Margaret Ashton, Baroness Ashton of Upholland, LG, GCMG, PC Coat of Arms of Catherine Margaret Ashton, Baroness Ashton of Upholland, LG, GCMG, PC.png
Garter-encircled arms of Catherine Margaret Ashton, Baroness Ashton of Upholland, LG, GCMG, PC

Awards

In February 2013, Ashton was assessed as one of the 100 most powerful women in the United Kingdom by Woman's Hour on BBC Radio 4. [89]

She was awarded an honorary degree from the University of East London in 2005. [90]

CountryDateAppointmentRibbonPost Nominal TitlesOther
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 23 April 2023 Lady Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter Order of the Garter UK ribbon.svg LG [91] [3]
2015 New Year Honours Dame Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George UK Order St-Michael St-George ribbon.svg GCMG
Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia 1 July 20142nd Class of the Order of the White Double Cross SVK Rad Bieleho Dvojkriza 2 triedy BAR.svg [92]

In 2019 she was appointed King of Arms of the Order of St Michael and St George. [93] She was appointed chancellor of the order in 2022, [94] and represented the order at the coronation of Charles III and Camilla in 2023. [95]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Valerie Amos, Baroness Amos</span> British diplomat (born 1954)

Valerie Ann Amos, Baroness Amos, is a British Labour Party politician and diplomat who served as the eighth UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator. Before her appointment to the UN, she served as British High Commissioner to Australia. She was created a life peer in 1997, serving as Leader of the House of Lords and Lord President of the Council from 2003 to 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Margot Wallström</span> Swedish politician (born 1954)

Margot Elisabeth Wallström is a Swedish politician of the Swedish Social Democratic Party who served as Deputy Prime Minister of Sweden and Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2014 to 2019 and Minister for Nordic Cooperation from 2016 to 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Javier Solana</span> Spanish politician (born 1942)

Francisco Javier Solana de Madariaga CYC is a Spanish physicist and PSOE politician. After serving in the Spanish government as Foreign Affairs Minister under Felipe González (1992–1995) and as the Secretary General of NATO (1995–1999), leading the alliance during Operation Allied Force, he was appointed the European Union's High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy, Secretary General of the Council of the European Union and Secretary-General of the Western European Union and held these posts from October 1999 until December 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eduard Kukan</span> Slovakian politician (1939–2022)

Eduard Kukan was a Slovakian politician who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1998 to 2006. He was a candidate in the presidential election held on 3 April 2004, and although pre-election polls had suggested he would come first, he actually came in third behind the eventual President Ivan Gašparovič and former prime minister Vladimír Mečiar, thus preventing him from contesting the run-off. He was elected Member of the European Parliament (MEP) in 2009, a position he held until 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy</span> Official of the European Union

The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission (HR/VP) is the chief co-ordinator and representative of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) within the European Union (EU). The position is currently held by Josep Borrell Fontelles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barroso Commission</span> European Commission from 2004 to 2014

The Barroso Commission was the European Commission in office from 22 November 2004 until 31 October 2014. Its president was José Durão Barroso, who presided over 27 other commissioners. On 16 September 2009 Barroso was re-elected by the European Parliament for a further five years and his Commission was approved to take office on 9 February 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stavros Lambrinidis</span> Greek lawyer and politician

Stavros Lambrinidis is a Greek lawyer and politician, currently serving as Ambassador of the European Union to the United Nations. He was previously Ambassador of the European Union to the United States from March 2019 until December 2023, European Union special representative for human rights from 2012 to 2019 and Minister for Foreign Affairs in Greece from June 2011 to November 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cecilia Malmström</span> Swedish politician (born 1968)

Anna Cecilia Malmström is a Swedish politician who served as European Commissioner for Trade from 2014 to 2019. She previously served as European Commissioner for Home Affairs from 2010 to 2014 and Minister for European Union Affairs from 2006 to 2010. She was a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Sweden from 1999 to 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">European Commissioner for External Relations</span>

The European Commissioner for External Relations was a member of the European Commission with responsibility over the Commissions external representation in the world and the European Union's (EU) Neighbourhood Policy (ENP). The responsibility was shared though between other Commission posts and the High Representative.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">European Commissioner for Trade</span> Member of the EU Commission

The European Commissioner for Trade is the member of the European Commission responsible for the European Union's common commercial policy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Accession of Albania to the European Union</span> Ongoing accession process of Albania to the EU

Albania is on the current agenda for future enlargement of the European Union (EU). It applied for EU membership on 28 April 2009, and has since June 2014 been an official candidate for accession. The Council of the European Union decided in March 2020 to open accession negotiations with Albania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Accession of Serbia to the European Union</span> Ongoing accession process of Serbia to the EU

Serbia applied to join the European Union (EU) in 2009 and has been a candidate for membership since 2012, along with nine other states. Serbia is the largest country in Southeast Europe seeking entry into the EU.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Accession of Kosovo to the European Union</span>

The accession of Kosovo to the European Union (EU) is on the current agenda for future enlargement of the EU. Kosovo is currently recognized by the EU as a potential candidate for accession.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of the European Union (1993–2004)</span>

The history of the European Union between 1993 and 2004 was the period between its creation and the 2004 enlargement. The European Union was created at the dawn of the post–Cold War era and saw a series of successive treaties laying the ground for the euro, foreign policy and future enlargement. Three new member states joined the previous twelve in this period and the European Economic Area extended the reach of the EU's markets to three more.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">European External Action Service</span> Diplomatic service and combined foreign and defence ministry of the European Union

The European External Action Service (EEAS) is the diplomatic service in charge of executing all international relations of the European Union. The EEAS is led by the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (HR/VP), who is also President of the Foreign Affairs Council and vice-president of the European Commission, and carries out the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), including the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Julian King (diplomat)</span> British diplomat (born 1964)

Sir Julian Beresford King is a British diplomat and civil servant who served as the final British European Commissioner from 2016 to 2019 prior to Brexit, having previously served as the British ambassador to Ireland (2009–2011) and France (2016).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of the European Union (2004–present)</span>

The history of the European Union from 2004 to the present is the current timeline of the European Union. It is a period of significant upheaval and reform following the 2004 enlargement of the European Union. The EU has taken on ten new members, eight of which were initially much poorer than the EU average, and took in a further two in 2007 with many more on the way. It created the euro a few years before and had to expand this, and the Schengen Area to its new members. However this was overshadowed by the late-2000s recession and damaging disputes over the European Constitution and its successor, the Treaty of Lisbon. Throughout this period, the European People's Party has been the largest group in the European Parliament and provides every President of the European Commission.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atifete Jahjaga</span> President of Kosovo from 2011 to 2016

Atifete Jahjaga is a Kosovar Albanian politician who served as the third President of Kosovo. She was the first female President of the Republic of Kosovo, the first non-partisan candidate and the youngest female head of state to be elected to the top office. She served as Deputy Director of the Kosovo Police, holding the rank of General Lieutenant Colonel, the most senior among women officers in Southeastern Europe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Palestine–European Union relations</span> Bilateral relations

Relations between the European Union and the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) were established in 1975 as part of the Euro-Arab Dialogue. The EU is a member of the Quartet and is the single largest donor of foreign aid to the Palestinian Authority.

The First Agreement of Principles Governing the Normalisation of Relations, informally known as the Brussels Agreement, is an agreement to normalize relations between the governments of Serbia and Kosovo. The agreement, negotiated and concluded in Brussels under the auspices of the European Union, was signed on 19 April 2013. Negotiations were led by Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dačić and Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi, mediated by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton. The government of Serbia does not recognize Kosovo as a sovereign state, but began normalising relations with the government of Kosovo as a result of the agreement. In Belgrade, the agreement was criticized by protestors as a convalidation of Kosovo independence.

References

  1. ↑ Jointly with Department for Work and Pensions from June 2003.
  2. ↑ "No. 24651". The Edinburgh Gazette . 6 August 1999. p. 1667.
  3. 1 2 "New appointments to the Order of the Garter". Royal.uk . 23 April 2023. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  4. 1 2 Chaffin, Joshua; Parker, George (4 October 2008). "EU president backs trade role for Ashton". Financial Times . Archived from the original on 10 December 2022. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  5. ↑ Castle, Stephen; Erlanger, Steven (19 November 2009). "Low-Profile Leaders Chosen for Top European Posts". The New York Times. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  6. 1 2 Traynor, Ian (24 November 2013). "Iran nuclear talks: Lady Ashton's Geneva triumph takes centre stage". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  7. ↑ "Baroness Ashton to become Chancellor of the University of Warwick". Warwick Insite. University of Warwick. 17 November 2016. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  8. ↑ "EU Trade Commissioner Catherine Ashton". EU Commission. Archived from the original on 30 April 2009.
  9. 1 2 3 Watt, Nicholas (20 November 2009). "Lady Ashton: Principled, charming ... or just plain lucky". The Guardian . Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  10. 1 2 Van Renterghem, Marion (9 December 2009). "Catherine Ashton, la discrète Lady Europe". Le Monde (in French). Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  11. 1 2 "Profile: Catherine Ashton". The Sunday Times . 14 March 2010. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  12. ↑ Davie, Edward (15 October 2007). "Baroness of the barricades". The House . Archived from the original on 18 May 2013. Retrieved 22 November 2009.
  13. 1 2 "Movers and Shakers among the Department's former students". Dept of Politics & International Relations, Royal Holloway, University of London. Archived from the original on 8 September 2004. Retrieved 19 November 2009.
  14. ↑ "Alumni in the Media". Development & Alumni Relations, Royal Holloway, University of London. Archived from the original on 5 February 2010. Retrieved 19 November 2009.
  15. ↑ "The Baroness Ashton of Upholland, PC". Debrett's . Archived from the original on 9 July 2011. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  16. ↑ Brunsden, Jim (3 October 2008). "New EU Commissioner Named". European Voice . Archived from the original on 19 October 2009. Retrieved 22 November 2009.
  17. ↑ Minnion, John & Bolsover, Philip (1983). The CND Story. London, UK: Allison & Busby. ISBN   978-0-85031-487-8.
  18. ↑ "Profile". Windsor Fellowship.org. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  19. ↑ "Profile: EU foreign minister Baroness Ashton". BBC News. 6 December 2010. Archived from the original on 22 November 2009. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
  20. ↑ "Profile". Gingerbread.org.uk. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  21. ↑ "Baroness Ashton of Upholland". Parliament of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  22. ↑ "Gay rights advocate Cathy Ashton is new EU foreign affairs chief". PinkNews . 20 November 2009. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  23. ↑ "New Cabinet appointments". Prime Minister's Office . 28 June 2007. Archived from the original on 6 September 2008. Retrieved 22 October 2008.
  24. ↑ Waterfield, Bruno (20 November 2009). "Profile: Baroness Ashton, EU's new foreign minister". The Daily Telegraph . Archived from the original on 10 January 2011.
  25. ↑ Under Article 245 (formerly Article 213) of the Treaty establishing the European Community as amended. "Consolidated version of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union: Part Six, Title I, Chapter 1, Section 4; The Commission, Articles 211 to 219". Legislation.gov.uk.
  26. ↑ Margaret Thatcher, Prime Minister (12 December 1984). "Lord Cockfield". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard) . House of Commons. col. 493W.
  27. ↑ Lord Bach, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Justice (14 October 2008). "European Parliament (House of Lords Disqualification) Regulations 2008". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard) . House of Lords. col. 676.
  28. ↑ "European Parliament Focus briefing "Ashton backs Doha rescue in Q&A with MEPs"". European Parliament. 21 October 2008. Archived from the original on 7 June 2019. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  29. ↑ "EU and US reach deal in beef row". BBC News. 6 May 2009. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  30. ↑ Castle, Stephen (10 October 2008). "Europe and South Korea Sign Trade Pact". The New York Times. Retrieved 15 October 2009.
  31. ↑ "EU and South Korea initial free trade deal". European Commission. 15 October 2009. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  32. ↑ Tolbaru, Ana-Maria (15 October 2009). "EU and South Korea sign trade pact". European Voice. Archived from the original on 21 October 2009. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  33. ↑ "EU set to cut tariffs on Latin American bananas". Stabroek News . 19 November 2009. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  34. ↑ "Belgian PM named as EU president". BBC News. 19 October 2009. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  35. ↑ "UK drops Blair, picks Ashton for EU role". Yahoo News . 19 November 2009. Retrieved 20 March 2015.[ permanent dead link ]
  36. ↑ Branigan, Tania; Harding, Luke; McCarthy, Rory; Chulov, Martin & Nasaw, Daniel (20 November 2009). "Catherine Ashton: 'As trade commissioner she had a good reputation'". The Guardian.
  37. ↑ Charlemagne (15 December 2009). "Catherine Ashton and the British problem". The Economist. Archived from the original on 22 October 2020.
  38. ↑ See, for example, Gardiner, Nile (21 May 2010). "Four Key Principles for a Conservative British Foreign Policy". The Heritage Foundation. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  39. ↑ Gardiner, Nile (20 November 2009). "Baroness Ashton as EU Foreign Minister – is this the most ridiculous appointment in the history of the European Union?". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 23 November 2009. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
  40. ↑ Hannan, Daniel (10 October 2008). "Why I shall be voting against Peter Mandelson's replacement". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 23 July 2009. Retrieved 22 October 2008.
  41. ↑ "European Parliament approves new EU trade chief". People's Daily . 22 October 2008. Retrieved 22 October 2008.
  42. ↑ "No. 61092". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 2014. p. N3.
  43. ↑ "New Year Honours 2015: Diplomatic Service and Overseas List" (PDF). Government of the United Kingdom. Archived (PDF) from the original on 31 December 2014. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  44. ↑ Rettman, Andrew (8 July 2010). "EU takes 'historic' step on new diplomatic service". EUobserver . Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  45. ↑ "The EU fight against piracy in the Horn of Africa" (PDF). European External Action Service . Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  46. ↑ "Statement by the spokesperson of EU High Representative Catherine Ashton following the disruption of pirate logistical dumps in Somalia by EU Naval Force – Operation Atalanta" (PDF). Council of the European Union. 15 May 2012. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  47. ↑ Morris, Chris (24 April 2013). "EU's Ashton sees 'brave' Kosovo deal as breakthrough". BBC News. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
  48. ↑ "Editorial: A landmark deal in the Balkans". The Independent. 22 April 2013. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  49. ↑ "Serbia and Kosovo reach EU-brokered landmark accord". BBC News. 19 April 2013. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  50. ↑ "Moving Past the Last Balkan War". The New York Times. 24 April 2013. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  51. ↑ Kingsley, Patrick (30 July 2013). "Egypt's deposed president Morsi is safe and well, confirms EU's top diplomat". The Guardian.
  52. ↑ "Egypt's ousted president Mohamed Morsi alive and well, says EU's Ashton - video". The Guardian. 30 July 2013. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  53. ↑ Day, Elizabeth (4 August 2013). "How Baroness Ashton's gift for consensus opened the door to Mohamed Morsi". The Observer. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  54. ↑ Norman, Laurence & Solomon, Jay (9 November 2013). "Iran Nuclear Talks End Without Deal". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 6 April 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  55. 1 2 Ashton, Catherine (11 December 2013). "Message by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton to Maidan protesters". Europa . Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  56. ↑ Morris, Chris (24 April 2013). "EU's Ashton sees "brave" Kosovo deal as breakthrough". BBC News. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  57. ↑ Norman, Laurence (24 December 2013). "A Nobel Peace Prize for Catherine Ashton in 2014?". The Wall Street Journal.
  58. ↑ ""Open letter for the Nobel Peace Prize nomination," by S&D Group president, Hannes Swoboda". Socialists & Democrats. 29 January 2014.
  59. ↑ Spiegeleisen, Peter (27 November 2013). "Ashton no longer the diplomatic dilettante". Financial Times.
  60. ↑ "Dmitry Rogozin: If Ukrainian protests are peaceful, Catherine Ashton is a ballerina". Pravda.ru . 21 February 2014. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  61. ↑ MacAskill, Ewen (5 March 2014). "Ukraine crisis: bugged call reveals conspiracy theory about Kiev snipers". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  62. ↑ Waldie, Paul (8 March 2014). "Prominent Ukrainian Doctor is no ordinary revolutionary". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  63. ↑ Ashton, Catherine (28 March 2014). "Statement by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton on recent events around the Parliament of Ukraine" (PDF). European External Action Service. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 December 2014. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  64. ↑ "Laws of Attrition: Crackdown on Russia's Civil Society after Putin's Return to the Presidency". Human Rights Watch . 24 April 2013. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  65. ↑ "U.S. condemns killings of Egypt protesters, Turkey wants U.N. action". Reuters. 14 August 2013.
  66. ↑ "All According to Plan: The Rab'a Massacre and Mass Killings of Protesters in Egypt". Human Rights Watch. 12 August 2014.
  67. ↑ "EU's new High Representative Catherine Ashton says that she would help Europe 'punch its weight' politically". The Information Daily. 3 December 2009. Archived from the original on 4 December 2013. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  68. ↑ Waterfield, Bruno & Kirkup, James (25 November 2009). "Baroness Ashton questioned over CND and Soviet money". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  69. 1 2 3 Mock, Vanessa (16 February 2010). "French 'sexism' blamed for attacks on Baroness Ashton". The Independent. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  70. ↑ Charter, David & Keeley, Graham (26 February 2010). "Baroness Ashton under fire for missing European defence summit". The Times. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011.
  71. ↑ Day, Elizabeth (4 July 2013). "How Baroness Ashton's gift for consensus opened the door to Mohamed Morsi". The Observer. There was even a damaging rumour that she turned off her phone every night at 8pm. Ashton's response: "I've never turned my phone off in four years ... I'm never out of reach, I'm never off duty and I never refuse to take messages unless I'm on a plane. It was a rumour that went around for reasons I don't understand. It's never been true."
  72. ↑ Waterfield, Bruno (9 February 2011). "Baroness Ashton bottom of class as she 'fails' first year in office". The Daily Telegraph.
  73. ↑ Buck, Tobias (20 March 2012). "Ashton slammed for Toulouse-Gaza link" . Financial Times. Archived from the original on 10 December 2022. Retrieved 20 March 2012.
  74. ↑ Shefler, Gil (20 March 2012). "Gunman kills four Jews outside French school". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 20 March 2012.
  75. ↑ "Speech by High Representative Catherine Ashton at the high-level conference Engaging youth—Palestine Refugees in the changing Middle East" (PDF). Council of the European Union. 19 March 2012. Retrieved 20 March 2012.
  76. ↑ Waterfield, Bruno (20 March 2012). "Toulouse school shootings: Israel demands Baroness Ashton resign after she compares incident to Gaza". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 20 March 2012.
  77. ↑ Ben Zion, Ilan & Fisher, Gabe (20 March 2012). "Netanyahu slams Ashton for 'unthinkable' comparison of deaths in Toulouse and Gaza". The Times of Israel.
  78. ↑ "EU corrects Ashton speech transcript after Israeli anger". YnetNews. 20 March 2012. Archived from the original on 22 August 2012. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
  79. ↑ Waterfield, Bruno (20 September 2012). "Baroness Ashton absent from two-thirds of European Commission meetings". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  80. ↑ Carroll, Dean (6 September 2011). "Catherine Ashton for a second term at the EEAS?". Public Service Europe. Archived from the original on 26 March 2012. Retrieved 20 September 2011.
  81. ↑ Rettman, Andrew (8 March 2010). "Ashton throws down the gauntlet over Gaza trip". EUobserver. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  82. ↑ Schmitz, Gregor Peter & Schult, Christoph (1 October 2013). "Europe's Unsung Chief Diplomat". Spiegel Online International. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  83. ↑ Oborne, Peter (27 September 2013). "We were all wrong about Baroness Ashton. She may save the Iran nuclear talks". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  84. ↑ Taylor, Paul (21 July 2014). "The European Union's Strange Path to Picking Leaders". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  85. ↑ Boulton, Adam (13 July 2014). "Dave seeks a 'big woman' to fill Baroness Brussels' big shoes". The Times.
  86. ↑ "YouGov – Peter Kellner". YouGov.co.uk. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
  87. ↑ McSmith, Andy (7 March 2014). "The quiet diplomat: Catherine Ashton – recognised and admired in all the world's troubled countries, yet ridiculed at home". The Independent . London, UK. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
  88. ↑ And Then What? Inside Stories of 21st-Century Diplomacy. London: Elliott & Thompson. 2 February 2023. ISBN   9781783966349.
  89. ↑ "Woman's Hour: The Power List 2013". BBC Radio 4. Archived from the original on 22 April 2013.
  90. ↑ "UEL students celebrate success at graduation ceremonies". UEL Alumni Newsletter. December 2005. Archived from the original on 18 February 2011.
  91. ↑ "No. 64041". The London Gazette . 2 May 2023. p. 8746.
  92. ↑ "Prezident A. Kiska udelil štátne vyznamenanie Catherine Ashtonovej" [President A. Kiska awarded the state decoration to Catherine Ashton]. TERAZ.sk (in Slovak). 1 July 2014.
  93. ↑ "Court Circular". The Royal Household. 30 May 2019.
  94. ↑ "No. 63615". The London Gazette . 14 February 2022. p. 2554.
  95. ↑ "Coronation order of service in full". BBC News. 5 May 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
Party political offices
Preceded by Leader of the Labour Party in the House of Lords
2007–2008		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Leader of the House of Lords
2007–2008		Succeeded by
Lord President of the Council
2007–2008
Preceded by British European Commissioner
2008–2014		Succeeded by
European Commissioner for Trade
2008–2009		Succeeded by
Preceded byas High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
2009–2014		Succeeded by
Preceded by First Vice-President of the European Commission
2010–2014		Succeeded by
Academic offices
Preceded by Chancellor of the University of Warwick
2017–present		Incumbent
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.