On Baroness Ashton's new role

The announcement of Baroness Cathy Ashton as the EU's first High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission marks a sea-change in how Europe will be perceived across the globe. This position which has already been analysed, detailed and scrutinised almost to death for years as part of the drawn-out Lisbon Treaty, has now been given a highly able pair of hands to take it into practical reality. As someone who has known Cathy for many years from her home in my own UK constituency, I can tell you that as well as being a really talented woman she is also someone who is approachable, friendly and holds bucket loads of common sense.
 The challenges facing Cathy Ashton in her new role are multiple. She will be the midwife at the birth of the new External Action Service and there is huge expectation in Foreign Ministeries and in the Commission itself about how this new service will be formed and how to make it truly new, truly effective and properly efficient. Cathy has the leadership and management skills to make the most important reform of the Lisbon Treaty.
In terms of immediate foreign policy issues landing on Cathy's new desk, she will have to look hard at the Middle East. Having played a key role in sustaining the Palestinian Authority, the European Union now must intensify efforts to make sure the current impasse is ended. She will have a major role in following on from Javier Solana to seek a peaceful solution against Iran's nuclear proliferation.
Relations with Russia will also be an immediate challenge as strong feelings have divided Europe over energy supplies and the situation in Georgia where the EU Monitoring Mission remains in situ, watching over an unsteady peace.
The critics have already lined up to throw stones at the new appointment but Cathy has in her role as Trade Commissioner shown how she can clock up the air miles to pursue the European Union's interests across the globe. She has shown herself an adept diplomat from the very sensitive negotiations she took up on trade with the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries where she brought a whole new tone to the negotiations, or on the South Korea trade agreement where she has shown she can be tough and deliver. Cathy has risen up through the Ministerial ranks, and in her former position as the Leader of the upper house of the UK parliament steered the Lisbon Treaty through the ratification process in the teeth of fierce and unrelenting eurosceptic opposition.
The High Representative's job is not just a big job, it's a very big job. But by the end of five years I am certain people will look back and see an enormous record of achievement. Anyone who doesn't know Cathy Ashton today, certainly will tomorrow!

Richard Howitt is a UK Member of the European Parliament, a member of the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, Chair of the Labour Group of MEPs and British Labour Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs