European Tribune - Community, Politics & Progress.

LTD: Catherine Ashton - Why [and how] a Brit?

by Migeru
Sat Nov 21st, 2009 at 04:36:36 PM EST

Zapatero fue el muñidor del pacto sobre la alta representante · ELPAÍS.com		Zapatero forged the pact over the High Representative - ElPais.com
El presidente español, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, mantuvo el jueves en Bruselas una reunión que no se ha hecho pública y resultó crucial para el acuerdo de la cumbre europea. Nada más bajar del avión que le traía de Holanda, se reunió en el aeropuerto con el primer ministro británico, Gordon Brown.		Spain's PM, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, on Thursday held a meeting in Brussels which had not been made public and which ended up being crucial for the agreement at the European Summit. Just off the plane bringing him from the Netherlands, he met at the airport with the British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
Para entonces, Zapatero ya sabía que Brown había renunciado a mantener la candidatura de su antecesor, Tony Blair, a la presidencia permanente del Consejo Europeo, lo que desbloqueaba el nombramiento del belga Herman Van Rompuy, apoyado por Merkel y Sarkozy. Brown le confirmó, además, que la negativa del ministro de Exteriores británico, David Miliband, a optar al puesto de alto representante para la Política Exterior era firme. Sin embargo, Brown le ofreció tres candidatos británicos como alternativa: Peter Mandelson, ex comisario europeo y uno de los pesos pesados del laborismo, Geoff Hoon, ex ministro de Defensa, y Catherine Ashton, comisaria de Comercio. Brown y Zapatero se dirigieron a la sede de la representación austriaca ante la UE, donde esperaban los líderes del Partido Socialista Europeo (PSE).		By then, Zapatero already knew that Brown had given up on keeping the candidacy of his predecessor, Tony Blair, to the permanent Presidency of the European Council, which unblocked the appointment of the Belgian Herman Van Rompuy, supported by Merkel and Sarkozy. Brown confirmed to [ZP], in addition, that the refusal of the British Foreign Minister, David Miliband, to opt to the position of High Representative for Foreign Policy was firm. However, Brown offered him three British candidates as an alternative: Peter Mandelson, former European Commissioner and one of Labour's heavyweights, Geoff Hoon, former Defence Minister, and Catherine Ashton, Trade Commissioner. Brown and ZP went to the site of the Austrian Representation before the EU, where the leaders of the PES were waiting.
Antes de la reunión plenaria, Zapatero, por encargo de Brown, se reunió por separado con los líderes socialistas y, especialmente, con los pocos que (como los de Portugal y Grecia) gobiernan en sus países y tienen voto en el Consejo Europeo.		Before the plenary meeting ZP, on Brown's charge, met separately with the Socialist Leaders and, especially, with the few who (like the Portuguese and Greek ones) are in government in their countries and have a vote in the European Council.

Luego, trasladó a Brown su respuesta: había consenso para elegir a Ashton. ¿Por qué? Fuentes diplomáticas reconocen que pesó decisivamente su condición de mujer. Ante el hecho consumado de que los conservadores propondrían a Rompuy, los socialistas consideraron que era su responsabilidad situar a una mujer en uno de los puestos de mayor responsabilidad de la UE, como se venía demandando desde los sectores progresistas. También, según las fuentes consultadas, se valoró el hecho de que Ashton fuera comisaria y tuviera una buena relación con Barroso ya que, como alta representante, será vicepresidente de la Comisión Europea. Además, buena parte del nuevo Servicio Exterior de la UE, que le tocará dirigir, se constituirá con los actuales funcionarios de la Comisión. Por último, su actual responsabilidad, la cartera de Comercio, tiene una vertiente exterior. "Probablemente no sepa gran cosa sobre Irán, pero no le costará aprender", agregan las mismas fuentes. Al argumento de que la política exterior de la UE se dirigirá desde el Foreign Office contraponen las fuentes consultadas el contrario: "La diplomacia británica no podrá actuar por libre con una compatriota al frente de la europea".		He then relayed to Brown their reply: there was a consensus to choose Ashton. Why? Diplomatic sources recognise that her being a woman had a decisive weight. Facing the fait accompli that the Conservatives would propose Rompuy, the Socialist considered that it was their responsibility to place a woman in one of the positions of highest responsibility in the EU, as progressive sectors had been demanding. In addition, according to the consulted sources, it was valued that Ashton was a Commissioner and had a good relationship with Barroso since, as High Representative, she will be Vice President of the European Commission. In addition, a large part of the new Foreign Service of the EU, which she will lead, will be made up of current Commission functionnaries. Finally, her current responsibility, the Trade portfolio, had a foreign component. "She probably doesn't know much about Iran, but she won't find it hard to learn", the same sources added. To the argument that EU foreign policy will be led from the [British] Foreign Office these sources counter: "British diplomacy will not be free-wheeling with a compatriot at the helm of the European one".
¿Y Moratinos? Aunque Sarkozy lanzó el nombre del ministro español de Asuntos Exteriores, era a Zapatero a quien le correspondía proponerlo. Y no lo hizo. Porque su relevo le creaba un enorme agujero a sólo 40 días del arranque de la presidencia española de la UE y porque Zapatero quiere mantener a Almunia al frente de una cartera económica de peso en Bruselas.		And Moratinos? Although Sarkozy threw the name of the Spanish Foreign Minister, it was Zapatero who should propose him. And he didn't. [This is] because his replacement would blow a big hole [in ZP's government] just 40 days before the start of the Spanish EU presidency and because ZP wants to keep [Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Joaquín] Almunia in charge of a weighty economic portfolio in Brussels.
No obstante, las mismas fuentes admiten que la situación habría sido muy distinta si no hubiera habido consenso sobre un candidato británico. "Estaba claro que el Alto Representante sería socialista y eso significaba británico o español".		Nevertheless, the same sources admit that the situation would have been very different had there not been a consensus on a British candidate. "It was clear that the High Representative would be a Socialist and this meant British or Spanish"
Pero lo hubo. Y Zapatero elogió a Ashton cuando el primer ministro sueco, Fredrik Reinfeldt, presentó su nombre a los jefes de Estado y Gobierno de la UE. Con el pacto cocinado entre bastidores, la cena de los líderes europeos acabó en un santiamén. "Decían que tendríamos que quedarnos a desayunar y no nos dio tiempo ni a terminar el café", se jactó Zapatero.		But there was [a consensus on a British candidate]. And Zapatero praised Ashton when the Swedish Prime Minister, Fredrik Reinfeldt, introduced her name to the Heads of State and Government of the EU. With the agreement pre-cooked behind the scenes, the European leaders' dinner was over in a moment. "They said we'd have to stay for breakfast and we didn't even have time for dessert", boasted Zapatero.

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LTD: Catherine Ashton - Why [and how] a Brit? | 29 comments (29 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

Lazy Translation Diary (4.00 / 5)

Taken at face value, this account answers most of the speculations about the appointment of Catherine Ashton.

En un viejo país ineficiente, algo así como España entre dos guerras civiles, poseer una casa y poca hacienda y memoria ninguna. -- Gil de Biedma

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Sat Nov 21st, 2009 at 04:38:27 PM EST

Re: LTD: Catherine Ashton - Why [and how] a Brit? (4.00 / 9)

So the logic goes something like this?

The candidate cannot be in active opposition in the country they're from. (Given that appointing an opposition figure could be viewed as a middle-finger salute to the government in question, that seems like a sensible constraint.) For a PES candidate, this means Austria, Greece, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain or Britain. Maybe Cyprus.
The country in question must be willing to let go of another portfolio. That rules out Portugal.
The candidate has to be from a medium-sized or larger country, since the other job went to a smallish country. That rules out Cyprus, Slovenia and Slovakia. (And given Slovenia and Cyprus's antics vis-a-vis their neighbours, that may not be an entirely bad thing.)
The country in question has to be willing to surrender a qualified politician. That, according to the article, rules out Spain.

Then we're down to Britain, Austria and Greece. And that's stretching the definition of "mid-sized."

- Jake

"Terraforming your own planet to make it uninhabitable hardly counts as epic win." - ThatBritGuy

by JakeS (JangoSierra 'at' gmail 'dot' com) on Sat Nov 21st, 2009 at 05:10:57 PM EST

Re: LTD: Catherine Ashton - Why [and how] a Brit? (4.00 / 6)

Indeed.

The candidate cannot be in active opposition in the country they're from. (Given that appointing an opposition figure could be viewed as a middle-finger salute to the government in question, that seems like a sensible constraint.) For a PES candidate, this means Austria, Greece, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain or Britain. Maybe Cyprus.

The candidate has to be proposed (or at least agreed to) by the prime minister of the country in question, especially given that this would be the single Commissioner from the country. It is possible for a country to nominate a politician from opposition if there is some sort of power-sharing agreement in the home country analogous to the way that the European Parliament chair was shared by the PES and EPP in two half-terms.

Take Élisabeth Guigou. Sarkozy would have to 1) want to nominate a PS member; 2) want to give up the French Commissioner post for this.

The country in question must be willing to let go of another portfolio. That rules out Portugal.

Also Spain, given that Zapatero wanted Almunia to have a second term in the Commission, and apparently there was an agreement with Barroso on this. Moratinos was suggested by Sarkozy, but Sarkozy doesn't get to decide the Spanish Commissioner. This is similar to Asselborn's quip that (paraphrasing) "it is none of Sarko's business to tell the PES that Blair is a suitable Socialist for them to nominate".

Then we're down to Britain, Austria and Greece. And that's stretching the definition of "mid-sized."

Were Austria and Greece considered "small" anyway, or did they not really want the job? The name of Ursula Plassnik was floated, but she was a Conservative! So, on size, it was "Britain or Spain" as the article explicitly states at one point. But Zapatero didn't want the job and Brown did.

Now look at the British slate:

Tony Blair - ruled out by the PES at large
David Miliband - ruled himself out
Peter Mandelson - nicknamed The Prince of Darkness
Geoff Hoon
Catherine Ashton

The positives of Catherine Ashton in the view of the PES leadership assembled at the Austrian Permanent Representation are spelled out in the article.

En un viejo país ineficiente, algo así como España entre dos guerras civiles, poseer una casa y poca hacienda y memoria ninguna. -- Gil de Biedma

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Sat Nov 21st, 2009 at 05:23:53 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: LTD: Catherine Ashton - Why [and how] a Brit? (4.00 / 4)

the British slate:
Tony Blair - ruled out by the PES at large
David Miliband - ruled himself out
Peter Mandelson - nicknamed The Prince of Darkness
Geoff Hoon
Catherine Ashton

With reference to the Times piece quoted in a top-level comment, Geoff Hoon was tainted by his involvement in the Iraq war.

En un viejo país ineficiente, algo así como España entre dos guerras civiles, poseer una casa y poca hacienda y memoria ninguna. -- Gil de Biedma

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Sun Nov 22nd, 2009 at 06:17:21 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: LTD: Catherine Ashton - Why [and how] a Brit? (4.00 / 2)

In Austria the Coalition agreed that the Conservatives get the EU post.

Wait this is important. Someone is wrong on the Internet.

by generic on Mon Nov 23rd, 2009 at 09:32:32 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: LTD: Catherine Ashton - Why [and how] a Brit? (4.00 / 8)

Despite their attempts at pushing their usual Eurosceptic talking points (see the reaction in the readers' comments), The Times has an interesting account of the British side of this (h/t Fran in the Salon)

Baroness Ashton: EU couldn't make it up
The plotting and bungles that led to an obscure British bureaucrat heading the EU's foreign service were even greater than first thought.

But the plotting and bungles were all British, and despite appearances, saying "EU couldn't make it up" is not a criticism of the EU but of Britain, to whose behaviour the EU would have said "you couldn't make it up".

The moment encapsulated just how badly Gordon Brown had bungled his attempt to win EU posts for his favoured candidates. The prime minister had lobbied in vain for Lord Mandelson, the business secretary, and Geoff Hoon, the former chief whip, to be given the job. Ashton was effectively his third or even fourth choice.

More like fifth choice. In any case, note how the slant here is to blame Brown for incompetence.

The British prime minister used to have the right to decide his candidate for top jobs in Brussels. Last week the decision was taken out of Brown's hands. Ashton was chosen by the inner machinations of the Brussels political elite.

As Prime Minister you either get to choose who to nominate to the Commission, or what job you want, but not both. By insisting on one of the big jobs, Britain lost the ability to dictate who would hold that job. Sometimes you don't even get to determine either as when Italy's Rocco Butiglione was rejected by the European parliament.

Underneath this disarray lies even more Machiavellian plotting than has been reported. At the heart of an extraordinary clash of egos and ambitions was, once again, Mandelson the manipulator. The Sunday Times has learnt that the business secretary privately hoped that David Miliband, the foreign secretary, could be levered into the EU high representative job. Why? So that Mandelson could take over as British foreign secretary, a post he has long coveted.
Then, when Miliband made it clear he was not a candidate for the Brussels job, Mandelson decided to make a run at it. Plotting did not stop there. When he was beaten by Ashton in the summit carve-up late last week, Mandelson pressed Brown to reshuffle his cabinet, moving Miliband sideways so that, again, Mandelson could take over at the Foreign Office.

See Fran in the Salon again for Mandelson's machinations.

Despite entrenched opposition to Blair, Brown continued to lobby for him until, according to British diplomats, a deal was struck last week: other EU states agreed that if Britain stopped pushing Blair as president, it could have the post of high representative.

I guess the other Member States didn't consider "having a big job" as important as the UK did. If they want the job, let them have it, we can still decide which Briton will hold it. There follows a profile of Hoon and of Ashton

However, her friends say she has considerable quiet charm. "She has achieved more in one year than Peter Mandelson did in four," said one. "He was too abrasive, whereas Cathy is patient and good at building alliances. It is the style of politics that works in Brussels."
Or as Ashton herself put it in a waspish interview last year: "Everyone has their own style. Peter did a fantastic job in my view, but I bring a different style. I don't know any oligarchs. I don't think I've ever been on anyone's yacht."
During her time in Brussels Ashton, a former health authority chairwoman who had never held elected office, forged an alliance with Barroso. She used her experience of fixing votes in the Lords to help the commission chairman out of difficulties with the Brussels parliament.
Despite such qualities, Brown put her on the list of his candidates for high representative with no great enthusiasm. Whitehall sources say he felt obliged to include her, in part because Barroso had demanded that EU leaders be given the choice of a woman for one of the top Brussels jobs.

And then, something about Mandelson's lobbying for the job

As late as Wednesday afternoon Mandelson was still making telephone calls to his contacts. He asked one senior European politician: "Do you not think I would make a good candidate for the job?"
The politician tried to give him a reality check: "It would be best to leave it or else you will burn your fingers." The politician explained that it wasn't only Blair who was unacceptable to the European socialists but anyone closely connected to his policies and the Iraq war.
"We are not against Tony Blair as a person, but against Blairism as a political concept," said the politician.

Blairism as a political concept also sank Geoff Hoon. The account substantially matches that from El Pais

Though summit-goers had been braced for a long haul, the deal was done with amazing rapidity. Brown laid out his shortlist at a meeting of socialist leaders, the political bloc which was to decide on the choice of high representative.
Mandelson, as expected, was dismissed. His imperious style was still etched in people's memories from his last Brussels incarnation. Hoon was met with little excitement. Many remembered his role as a champion of the Iraq war when he was defence secretary.
Ashton, by contrast, was greeted with unanimous support. The choice was formally confirmed by the 27 leaders shortly afterwards at a dinner of wild mushrooms with white truffles and line-caught bass.
...
However, the backlash against her appointment began almost immediately. ...

Also here on ET...

The British press seems to be turning this appointment into a disaster for Brown - I'm sure Ashton will be delighted at the reaction at home to her appointment.

Mandelson's spokesman insists the minister neither actively lobbied for a Brussels job nor called on Brown to hold a reshuffle.
It's all ammunition for the Conservatives, who accuse Brown of delivering a strategic setback for Britain. William Hague, the shadow foreign secretary, said that Brown had failed to secure one of the powerful economic portfolios. The job of internal market commissioner is now likely to go to the French politician Michel Barnier, an old-school champion of Gallic protectionism.

To wrap up, The Times delivers their marching orders to the Eurosceptics

For Eurosceptics the real concern may turn out to be van Rompuy. With his mild demeanour, he appears unthreatening. Accepting the presidency of the council, he said: "My personal opinion is completely subordinated to that of the council. It has no relevance. My task is to achieve consensus."

I guess in politics you can't please everyone but you can displease everyone.

En un viejo país ineficiente, algo así como España entre dos guerras civiles, poseer una casa y poca hacienda y memoria ninguna. -- Gil de Biedma

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Sun Nov 22nd, 2009 at 03:51:34 AM EST

Re: LTD: Catherine Ashton - Why [and how] a Brit? (4.00 / 4)

European Tribune - LTD: Catherine Ashton - Why [and how] a Brit?

Facing the fait accompli that the Conservatives would propose Rompuy, the Socialist considered that it was their responsibility to place a woman in one of the positions of highest responsibility in the EU, as progressive sectors had been demanding.

To me that is rationalising the choice of Asthon with hindsight. If Miliband had accepted the position they all would have been very happy with two men in the top positions.

by Fran (fran at eurotrib dot com) on Sun Nov 22nd, 2009 at 06:05:33 AM EST

Re: LTD: Catherine Ashton - Why [and how] a Brit? (4.00 / 3)

What I want to say with that, I do not believe that her being a woman was a top priority - the criteria for her choice in my opion was her being a Brit, getting also a woman was only a side-benefit.

by Fran (fran at eurotrib dot com) on Sun Nov 22nd, 2009 at 06:08:48 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: LTD: Catherine Ashton - Why [and how] a Brit? (none / 1)

the criteria for her choice in my opion was her being a Brit

Criteria is plural. The criteria were that the candidate:

be from a country with a PES government
not be from Belgium, Poland or Portugal
be from a country that wanted the HR position over other Commission portfolios
be personally acceptable to the PES governments
be a woman (if possible)

En un viejo país ineficiente, algo así como España entre dos guerras civiles, poseer una casa y poca hacienda y memoria ninguna. -- Gil de Biedma

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Sun Nov 22nd, 2009 at 10:03:54 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: LTD: Catherine Ashton - Why [and how] a Brit? (4.00 / 2)

Quite possible, but being able to take credit for some gender balance was a plus for the PES leaders. Zapatero has wasted no time trying to score points for that.

As the leader of a government with more female than male ministers, I found it hardly understandable or acceptable that there would be no [women] among the main positions of the Union

And there was a campaign by prominent women in the Commission and Parliament demanding at least one woman in the top jobs.

There is never a single reason for anything. In the case of Ashton, there's a long list of reasons for her appointment, some stronger than others, topped with "... plus, she's a woman".

En un viejo país ineficiente, algo así como España entre dos guerras civiles, poseer una casa y poca hacienda y memoria ninguna. -- Gil de Biedma

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Sun Nov 22nd, 2009 at 06:12:19 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: LTD: Catherine Ashton - Why [and how] a Brit? (none / 0)

And if they'd appointed two men, you'd be complaining about that.

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Sun Nov 22nd, 2009 at 09:51:17 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: LTD: Catherine Ashton - Why [and how] a Brit? (4.00 / 2)

Fran isn't complaining about a woman being appointed, just querying whether it was considered a high priority or not for this post holder to be a woman. Would they have insisted on it?

Ad astra per aspera

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Sun Nov 22nd, 2009 at 10:55:29 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: LTD: Catherine Ashton - Why [and how] a Brit? (4.00 / 2)

To the point of veto, I doubt it.

En un viejo país ineficiente, algo así como España entre dos guerras civiles, poseer una casa y poca hacienda y memoria ninguna. -- Gil de Biedma

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Sun Nov 22nd, 2009 at 11:03:54 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: LTD: Catherine Ashton - Why [and how] a Brit? (4.00 / 3)

The way I read it, it would depend on who was available.

If it meant picking a random woman from somewhere in Europe in order to make a point about equality - probably not.

From the background comments, Ashton is well respected, and has the right qualifications - more so than the other contenders, apparently - so she got the job, at the cost of putting Mandelson's and perhaps Blair's nose out of joint.

I'm not seeing that as a fail.

The priority seems to have been to pick someone who could do a good job first - for local definitions of 'good job' - and be a woman second.

I'm not convinced that was the wrong way to do this.

by ThatBritGuy (thatbritguy (at) googlemail.com) on Sun Nov 22nd, 2009 at 02:19:57 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: LTD: Catherine Ashton - Why [and how] a Brit? (4.00 / 2)

It's not necessarily either a fail or the wrong way to do it.

But Fran's point that there is little concern, in fact, for gender equality, and that Miliband would have been taken had he been available, seems fair to me.

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Sun Nov 22nd, 2009 at 02:31:16 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: LTD: Catherine Ashton - Why [and how] a Brit? (4.00 / 3)

But Fran's point that there is little concern, in fact, for gender equality, and that Miliband would have been taken had he been available, seems fair to me.

I disagree that "there is little concern for gender equality". However, "gender equality" doesn't trump all. Barroso and Zapatero would have huffed and puffed but in the end ZP would not have vetoed a candidate on the basis that they were not a woman. So you can actually have "Miliband would have been chosen had he made himself available, because the concern for gender equality is not overriding. Which is not the same thing as "there is no concern for gender equality".

The overriding concern here was, apparently, "no Blairism" (and that means no Blair, no Mandelson and no Hoon).

So "no to Blair" overrides "gender equality". Go figure.

En un viejo país ineficiente, algo así como España entre dos guerras civiles, poseer una casa y poca hacienda y memoria ninguna. -- Gil de Biedma

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Sun Nov 22nd, 2009 at 03:15:54 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: LTD: Catherine Ashton - Why [and how] a Brit? (4.00 / 4)

Well, the concern for gender equality is something we'll better appreciate when the entire Commission is appointed.

But the massive fail that we should be happy about is the hit the Blair faction took. Anything but Blair, anything but Mandelson. And two distinctly un-Blairy appointees, so no ersatz Blair around. :-D

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Sun Nov 22nd, 2009 at 03:28:26 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: LTD: Catherine Ashton - Why [and how] a Brit? (4.00 / 3)

Oh, by the way, unlike van Rompuy who will be appointed by the Council directly, Ashton needs to go through confirmation hearings in the European Parliament as Commission Vicepresident. So we'll know more about where she stands on the issues soon, assuming the MEPs do their job.

En un viejo país ineficiente, algo así como España entre dos guerras civiles, poseer una casa y poca hacienda y memoria ninguna. -- Gil de Biedma

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Sun Nov 22nd, 2009 at 03:34:13 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: LTD: Catherine Ashton - Why [and how] a Brit? (4.00 / 5)

Yes, of course I would have minded if two men would have been chosen these two positions. But that was not, what my rant was about. It was against the spin, that all of a sudden having a woman in that position has been important.

I am aware that Zapatero is one of the most feminist heads of state in Europe, but I think even he didn't fight much for a woman. My guess is that he would have had no problem with the a duo can Rompuy/Miliband. But now all of a sudden it sounds, like they made a real effort, when indeed it looks like she was a last minute choice, when none of the others was willing to take the job.

The one thing in my opinion that speaks for Asthon is her being woman, otherwise I just do not know enough about her.

I am complaining about gender equality in general and I think it is a sad state of being when European women have to lance a petition for a

Gender Balanced Commission Europe is full of competent women, now is the time to put them forward!

A new European Commission is going to take office this autumn and it looks like there will be even fewer female Commissioners in it than in the outgoing Commission. There are plenty of possible female candidates suitable for all portfolios. It's time to take action!

Asking for 1/3 of the commission members being women, for a sad number considering that the European population is 50 or more % female. Something around 50% of commission post would actually represent gender equality to me. Why do we still need petitions to get women into important positions?

I also find it sad that I saw this petition for the first time an a US blog, not a European one. Though Americablog does also look at the situation of US women "AMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth: Crisis in US women's leadership" which doesn't look much better and which also seems to slide backwards.

You can consider me an old feminist turning more and more cynic on this topic.

by Fran (fran at eurotrib dot com) on Sun Nov 22nd, 2009 at 11:52:08 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: LTD: Catherine Ashton - Why [and how] a Brit? (none / 0)

The one thing in my opinion that speaks for Asthon is her being woman, otherwise I just do not know enough about her.

Just from this thread:

according to the consulted sources, it was valued that Ashton was a Commissioner and had a good relationship with Barroso since, as High Representative, she will be Vice President of the European Commission. In addition, a large part of the new Foreign Service of the EU, which she will lead, will be made up of current Commission functionnaries. Finally, her current responsibility, the Trade portfolio, had a foreign component.

and

her friends say she has considerable quiet charm. "She has achieved more in one year than Peter Mandelson did in four," said one. "He was too abrasive, whereas Cathy is patient and good at building alliances. It is the style of politics that works in Brussels."
Or as Ashton herself put it in a waspish interview last year: "Everyone has their own style. Peter did a fantastic job in my view, but I bring a different style. I don't know any oligarchs. I don't think I've ever been on anyone's yacht."
During her time in Brussels Ashton, a former health authority chairwoman who had never held elected office, forged an alliance with Barroso. She used her experience of fixing votes in the Lords to help the commission chairman out of difficulties with the Brussels parliament.

Do you not know or do you not care to know anything else about her than the fact that she is a woman?

The fact is,

Barroso had demanded that EU leaders be given the choice of a woman for one of the top Brussels jobs

and,

the Socialist considered that it was their responsibility to place a woman in one of the positions of highest responsibility in the EU, as progressive sectors had been demanding. In addition

There is no evidence that this is an ex-post-facto rationalisation other than your need to claim that nobody actually cares about gender equality at the highest levels of the EU institutions.

A woman candidate was requested, one was offered and she was elected.

En un viejo país ineficiente, algo así como España entre dos guerras civiles, poseer una casa y poca hacienda y memoria ninguna. -- Gil de Biedma

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Sun Nov 22nd, 2009 at 12:52:12 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: LTD: Catherine Ashton - Why [and how] a Brit? (4.00 / 3)

I am sorry, but your excerpts don't tell me where she stands on human rights? What's her position on the Afghanistan war? Is she an Atlanticist or what? Where does she stand on women rights - in general? Is she a hawk or is a dove concerning military interventions? Etc. I have not seen much informations what her positions on these topics are. But maybe you can enlighten me.

That's what I am interested in - not if she is charming or if she has a good relation with Barroso or if she gets much done, that's nice but I would like to know here ideas behind what she gets done.

It is absolutely possible that she might turn out to do a great job, but at the moment this is all guesswork, until we know where stands on these and other topics.

And you have every right to see it your way, but I am still not convinced - that if Miliband had accepted, there would be two man in this two top positions

by Fran (fran at eurotrib dot com) on Sun Nov 22nd, 2009 at 01:10:33 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: LTD: Catherine Ashton - Why [and how] a Brit? (none / 0)

if Miliband had accepted, there would be two man in this two top positions

And that would be the end of the World as we know it?

En un viejo país ineficiente, algo así como España entre dos guerras civiles, poseer una casa y poca hacienda y memoria ninguna. -- Gil de Biedma

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Sun Nov 22nd, 2009 at 03:17:20 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: LTD: Catherine Ashton - Why [and how] a Brit? (4.00 / 5)

What evidence are you adducing that anyone does really care about this?

How many women are likely to be members of the new Commission compared to the old? The fact that there was a wish to see a woman at the top can be seen as much as CYA as a genuine concern for gender equality.

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Sun Nov 22nd, 2009 at 01:14:36 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: LTD: Catherine Ashton - Why [and how] a Brit? (4.00 / 2)

In that regard, Neelie Kroes remaining European Commissioner for Competition maybe even more important, when push comes to shove, than the recent appointments. This, and Viviane Reding at Information Society and Media.

Europeans think a hundred miles is a long way. Americans think a hundred years is a long time.

by Bernard on Sun Nov 22nd, 2009 at 05:08:50 PM EST
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Re: LTD: Catherine Ashton - Why [and how] a Brit? (none / 1)

afew:

How many women are likely to be members of the new Commission compared to the old?

As I read somewhere: fewer.

A vote for PES is a vote for EPP! A vote for EPP is a vote for PES! Support the coalition, vote EPP-PES in 2009!

by A swedish kind of death on Tue Nov 24th, 2009 at 08:03:34 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: LTD: Catherine Ashton - Why [and how] a Brit? (4.00 / 2)

Her attitude to military intervention and Atlanticism might be coloured by the fact that she was once vice chair of CND (Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament), the foremost anti-war and anti-NATO civil organisation in the UK.

Now after that she has been a NuLabour apparatchick (sic) for the last 20 years, so perhaps the Blairite ethics-rinse-cycle has washed out all of the above personal history - but let's hope not.

I don't know much more about her or her position on Iraq, but she has to be an improvement on B.Liar, Mandelson or Hoon who were rather intimately involved in the oil grab.

by Pope Epopt on Sun Nov 22nd, 2009 at 04:48:42 PM EST

Re: LTD: Catherine Ashton - Why [and how] a Brit? (none / 0)

Well, Javier Solana also started out opposing NATO and ended up chairing it :)

En un viejo país ineficiente, algo así como España entre dos guerras civiles, poseer una casa y poca hacienda y memoria ninguna. -- Gil de Biedma

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Sun Nov 22nd, 2009 at 07:05:44 PM EST
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Re: LTD: Catherine Ashton - Why [and how] a Brit? (none / 0)

Wikipedia:

On 5 December 1995, Solana became the new Secretary-General of NATO, replacing Willy Claes who had been forced to resign in a corruption scandal. His appointment created controversy as, in the past, he had been an opponent of NATO. He had written a pamphlet called 50 Reasons to say no to NATO, and had been on a US subversives list.[citation needed] On 30 May 1982 Spain joined NATO. When PSOE came to power later that year, Solana and the party changed their previous anti-NATO positions into an atlanticist, pro-NATO stance. On 12 March 1986 Spain held a referendum on whether to remain in NATO, with the government and Solana successfully campaigning in favour. When criticised about his anti-NATO past, Solana argued that he was happy to be its representative as it had become disassociated from its Cold War origins.

En un viejo país ineficiente, algo así como España entre dos guerras civiles, poseer una casa y poca hacienda y memoria ninguna. -- Gil de Biedma

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Sun Nov 22nd, 2009 at 07:10:25 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: LTD: Catherine Ashton - Why [and how] a Brit? (none / 1)