Catherine Ashton Becomes New EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

At the informal Brussels Summit, the Heads of State and Government decide to appoint Catherine Ashton as the new EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, who, according to the provisions of the Lisbon Treaty, will also be Vice-President of the European Commission. She officially assumed her duties with the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty on December 1, 2009, and her term ended on October 31, 2014. Her term as Vice-President of the European Commission (which constitutes the second term of the Barroso Commission) began on February 10, 2010, and ended correspondingly on October 31, 2014. For the appointment to this position, the President of the Commission must agree with the decision of the European Council. The High Representative, given that they also hold the position of Vice-President of the European Commission, means that they must be voted on by the European Parliament before assuming their duties.