01.02.2010
Greater coherence and efficiency called for in
EU External Service structures
German Development Minister Dirk Niebel meets
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton
German Development Minister Dirk Niebel today met Catherine Ashton, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. In their meeting, Niebel underlined the importance of a coherent and efficient EU development policy:
"In the coming weeks, when the European External Action Service is set up, Europe will send an important signal about how it intends to engage on the international stage in the future. The Lisbon Treaty contains clear guidelines in this regard, specifying the need for more coherence and efficiency. The same guidelines apply to EU development policy, which makes up a significant part of the EU’s external relations. I have asked Baroness Ashton to keep this in mind."
Development Minister Niebel and Baroness Ashton also discussed the situation in Afghanistan and Haiti, as well as the proposed German and EU activities there. They both agreed that it was very important in both cases to coordinate measures and arrange for a sensible division of labour.
Catherine Ashton was appointed as the first High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy by the European Council in November 2009 and took up her position on 1 December 2009, when the Lisbon Treaty entered into force.
Initially, her work will also comprise drafting a proposal, on the basis of the guidelines set by the European Council of EU heads of state or government, for a new European External Action Service (EEAS), which will assist the High Representative in her work. As regards development policy, concrete plans for a division of responsibilities in this area still need to be agreed between Baroness Ashton, Commissioner for Development Andris Piebalgs and Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid Kristalina Georgieva.
Before meeting with Dirk Niebel, Baroness Ashton also had talks with Germany’s Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel and Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle.
