Brussels, 01/02/2013 (Agence Europe) - At the end of her meeting with German Foreign Affairs Minister Guido Westerwelle in Berlin on 1 February, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton said it was appropriate for the EU to develop its global approach. When the EU operates in the world “we have the real advantage of bringing together the member states, the institutions, the instruments that we have to be able to promote the values we hold and to be engaged in the process of peace and security across the world”.
Stating that Europe must be judged on its ability to operate in its neighbourhood, Ashton said that the EU can play a role across the world. “Our strong partnership with the United States of America is never to be underestimated”, she said, adding that the EU's relationship with its strategic partners - “Russia, China, Brazil, Mexico” - is not only a bilateral relationship based on strong economic links but also “a political relationship based on challenges that we face together and opportunities that we should take to support development and security”. The best example, in Ashton's view, is the discussions on the Iranian nuclear programme, where Ashton is leading the negotiations in the name of the E3+3 (Germany, France, United Kingdom and China, United States, Russia). (CG/transl.fl)