"It's pure imagination," said European Commission spokesperson Pia Ahrenkilde Hansen yesterday (3 May), responding to articles published in the British press which presented Baroness Ashton's departure from her role as EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy as imminent.
The British conservative press reported that unnamed EU sources were blaming Ashton for failing to launch the new European diplomatic service. The Daily Telegraph and the Daily Mail stressed that criticism of Ashton mainly came from France.
French position
A spokesperson from the French Permanent Representation to the EU in Brussels firmly denied the rumours. "We completely back the work Catherine Ashton has carried out thus far, including that on the EU diplomatic service. French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner clearly showed his support for her work during the last Council in Luxembourg last week."
France has been critical of Ashton on a number of occasions, notably regarding her position on the Middle East, her lack of international visibility and her limited knowledge of foreign languages. But Paris has never openly criticised the Baroness for her efforts to set up the EU's diplomatic service.
To further defuse criticism, diplomats even displayed satisfaction with Ashton's linguistic performances. "She already speaks French well enough and she is also planning to take lessons," the French spokesperson said.
The UK election trap
Another argument circulating in the press is that Ashton might be replaced by other UK politicians after the general election to be held next Thursday. UK Foreign Minister David Miliband, who refused the post a few months ago, was reported as a possible replacement.
It remains unclear what Miliband's interest would be in giving up a position in the new UK government, which would be all but guaranteed in the event of a Labour victory or a coalition with the Liberal Democrats after Thursday's poll. It is even less clear why a newly-elected conservative government would back a Labour politician to defend British interests in Brussels.
Some diplomats also argue that if the UK were to propose a replacement for Ashton, it could open a Pandora's Box, with the risk that top EU positions would have to be renegotiated between member states. "The key post of EU foreign minister might not be assured to London once again," a diplomat said.
The Miliband option also has another weakness: the gender problem. "Gender equality was such an issue in the new Barroso Commission that replacing Ashton with a man is unthinkable," said one Commission official.
"Although she could have done more and better, the general view is that Ashton is not doing so bad. She is dealing with an unprecedented, complex situation. Merging diplomatic services coming from different traditions is far from easy," explained another Brussels-based diplomat.
"We should give her more time, also because replacing her would mean wasting extra precious time to launch the new service," he added.
