Baroness, Bard and Blair: reaction to EU appointments

By Alex Smith / @alexsmith1982

I was in a meeting when I heard that Baroness Cathy Aston and Herman Van Rompuy would be High Representative and President of the European Council. My reaction, like many people’s, was of confusion turning quickly into concern that the whole saga would recede to eventual irrelevance for the positions which have been the topic of weeks of heated debate and speculation – and which are important roles. But only time will tell whether these appointees will make of the positions what the EU intended, or whether they will fashion the roles appropriately. We may be surprised.

The Times has a lot of good coverage of the pairing this morning, from a Q&A: what next for Van Rompoy and Ashton?, to a video of the commentariat of old Europe “groaning in disappointment”.

One “government member” apparently said:

“To think that we wanted Blair and we ended up with Cathy Ashton. It’s such an indictment of Gordon”.

But Lady Ashton defended her position, saying:

“Over the next few months and years I aim to show that I am the best person for the job. I think for quite a few people they would say that I am the best person for the job and I was chosen because I am, but I absolutely recognise there are a number of candidates around, all of whom would have been extremely good, extremely able. I hope that my particular set of skills will show that in the end I am the best choice.”

The Guardian has a good profile of Herman Van Rompuy, who is as well as being President of all Europe, is also a poet. His appointment, too, has brought alarm from members and potential members.

Oh, and a word on Tony Blair. It was Angela Merkel wot won it.