by Kate Holman
Catherine Ashton, Britain’s nominee for the new European Commission post of High Representative for Foreign Affairs, faced a series of hostile questions from right-wing British MEPs on Monday, during her formal hearing in the European Parliament.
The personal jibes from Tory and UKIP representatives contrasted with the generally polite questioning by other members of the parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee in Brussels. She emerged from her three-hour grilling with a smile on her face to receive a congratulatory hug from Labour Group leader Glenis Willmott.
Repeated interrogation about her membership of CND in the 1970s failed to derail Baroness Ashton, who only once betrayed signs of irritation when UKIP MEP the Earl of Dartmouth called on her to “recant and apologise”. She responded: “I am not ashamed of who I am and what I believe” Referring to her participation in CND marches, she said: “You can argue against how I did it, but you cannot argue with what I tried to achieve.”
It was a cool and competent performance from a politician who, since her surprise nomination in December for one of Europe’s most powerful positions, had been criticised for inadequate experience and specialist knowledge of EU foreign policy. German MEP Alexander Graf Lambsdorff congratulated her on having improved her grasp of issues since then, but still criticised a “lack of ambition” in her programme.
Baroness Ashton’s Labour Party colleagues were delighted with her performance. Foreign affairs spokesman Richard Howitt said “She’s the right woman for the job. Her appointment is at last a chance for Europe to be a player on the world stage after endless debate with sceptics.”
Some of the other nominees got a harder ride. MEPs cast doubt on Lithuanian Commissioner-designate Algirdas Semeta’s ability to handle his taxation and anti-fraud dossier. But their fiercest attacks were aimed at Bulgarian Rumiana Jeleva, who is accused of lying about her and her husband’s business interests. Tuesday’s hearing threatened to descend into uproar, as Ms Jeleva protested her innocence. “She did not convince us of her knowledge of the portfolio. Her answers were not relevant”, concluded German left MEP Hannes Swoboda.
The full Parliament is due to vote on the new team on January 26, but there is now a good chance that changes may be called for. MEPs have the right to veto the whole Commission if they disapprove of one or more candidates. In 2004, they forced Commission President José Manuel Barroso to replace the Italian nominee for justice and human rights, Rocco Buttiglione, because of his anti-gay views.
