You can tune in on Monday evening to hear Baroness Cathy 
Ashton of Upholland being quizzed by MEPs over her new role as Trade Commissioner following the shock resignation of Peter Mandelson.
You can watch the process before your very eyes by linking here at 6pm. My MEP Robert Sturdy will be leading on this as International Trade spokesman for the EPP-ED group, which Conservative MEPs belong to.
The International Trade Committee will play an active role in this crucial hearing and will want to know the Baronesses’ stance on a number of development-related trade issues, such as Economic Partnership Agreements and the Doha Development Agenda.
Her choice for this portfolio is seen as controversial because she has no background in these very important areas. But Robert believes the Labour peer should be given a fair hearing and judged on her merits, though not all agree.
Robert has already met Baroness Ashton and says:
“She admitted to me that she was new to the job, but put forward some interesting ideas. I would rather reserve judgement until she has got to know her brief a bit more.
Any final decision on her ability and possible acceptance, or non-acceptance by parliament, will have to wait until she has appeared before our committee. I will be looking to her to display qualities of leadership, knowledge and toughness in the hearing.”
In fact, it is crucial that the Trade Commissioner keeps up the momentum on progress which has been made, else it could reflect badly on Britain and possibly lead to us losing the highly prized trade portfolio in the Commission reshuffle due next year.
What do you think, will Baroness Ashton be up to the tough demands of this challenging job?
Question is also whether the INTA Committee is up to it to really push her as well! Stuck me that having watched the hearing Ashton kept the EP happy by saying she would listen to them more than Mandelson did (not hard), and no-one in the Committee was ready to push her hard. All a bit of a disappointment really.
Jon, I am glad that you tuned in, despite your disappointment with the outcomes. I will be adding Robert’s responses at the earliest moment, he is busy with meetings right now.
The European Parliament voted 538 in favour, 40 against and 63 abstentions in favour of new trade EU trade Commissioner Catherine Ashton from the UK. She has been nominated to replace Peter Mandelson as Trade Commissioner following his appointment to the British government. MEPs questioned Baroness Ashton on the future of the Doha Round, the financial crisis, bilateral trade negotiations – and on her own experience.
Baroness Ashton will be Commissioner until the end of the current Commission’s mandate – 31 October 2009.
Excelent post and comment. I wish good luck from Private Krankenversicherung