Commissioner-designate Catherine Ashton faced a hearing at the European Parliament on Monday, October 20th. MEPs questioned Baroness Ashton on the future of the Doha Round, the financial crisis, bilateral trade negotiations, as well as on her own experience.

In her statement before the Parliament's hearing, Commissioner Ashton expressed her belief about the fact that the gradual building of an open global trading system based on shared rules is one of the great achievements of the twentieth century. For Baroness Ashton, the WTO system might not be perfect, but it is easy to underestimate just how unpredictable the global economy would be without it. If approved by Parliament, she said, she would pay her first visit to Pascal Lamy in Geneva on October 22nd, to assure him that pursuing a successful Doha Round remains absolutely central to Europe’s trade policy.

Baroness Ashton has been nominated to replace Peter Mandelson as Trade Commissioner following his appointment to the British government.

Doha round and WTO reform

Asked about the Doha Round, and how she would have acted differently given, her predecessor's "failure" over the Doha Round, Baroness Ashton asserted that the Doha Round was "not over yet" after 7 years of discussions and reminded Members that the Uruguay Round lasted 8 years.
 
Baroness Ashton considers that, in order to shape the agenda for “fair, just and sustainable trade” in the complexity of the trade talks, she would both recognise the value and importance to EU citizens of trade for prosperity but also the need to create sustainable economies world-wide. Considerations of agriculture or development needed to be built into discussions, there should not be just one perspective.
 
Referring to the last set of WTO proposals Commissioner-designate stressed the importance of restarting talks and she was keen that the results would mean farming was open and transparent and would embed the CAP reforms of 2003 which would, at the end allay the fears of small farmers surviving at the margins.
 
Asked about the possibility including Singapore issues or including human and trade union rights at the Doha negotiations, Baroness Ashton reminded that under current critical circumstances it was a time for making optimal use of what we have, not to renegotiate the existing structures of the organisation.

She also added, in relation to Russia and the WTO relations that she “want(s) to see Russia join the World Trade Organisation".

Financial crisis

"I don’t believe that the answers to any of our problems, that includes the current financial crisis, lie in reversing the current openness of the global economy. I believe they lie in managing economic globalisation better", said the Commissioner-designate about the financial crisis, in her opening statement.
 
For the Development Committee, Thijs Berman (PES, NL) referred to the triple crises of food, energy and financial markets and asked how development co-operation can be integrated into trade policy.  Catherine Ashton said she shared concerns about the impact on the world's poorest and that was also worried that the economic downturn should not challenge our commitment to aid. "We have to develop a negotiating style to help overcome that," she said.

Bilateral negotiations

From Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Baroness was asked whether she would pursue stronger engagement with the Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia through closer free trade agreements. Baroness Ashton did not claim to be an expert in this area but said she was capable of recognising the importance of developing closer trade and other relations.

Asked about Trade relations with Central Asia, and whether to link human rights issues to them,  Commissioner Ashton reemphasised that trade is only one strand of the Commission's work, and that Commissioners with different portfolios should work in partnership, as they represent different aspects of the issues. In relation to Mercosur, Baroness affirmed to be keen on resuming negotiations with this group of countries, in a debate where the permanent dilemma between negotiating with regions or on a country basis was raised.
 
Baroness Ashton also expressed her support for a partnership agreement with China and an economic integration scheme with Japan.

Economic Partnership Agreements

"I don’t think there is any single model for trade liberalisation that works everywhere and at all times. There are only tailored solutions to the specific needs and the potential strengths of different countries. This would guide my approach in areas such as the Economic Partnership Agreements, where I want to listen to and learn from our ACP partners how best to take forward final agreements", said Baroness Ashton.

Commissioner-designate Ashton experience and profile

Asked about her personal and professional background, the Commissioner-designate firstly stressed her personal commitment to Europe.  She recalled her first visit to Strasbourg to seek support for UK SME exporters, saying she had succeeded through working closely with the Parliament, Commission and Council. She then pointed to her negotiating skills throughout her career and the breadth of her values.