World powers and Iran both gave positive signals as talks began Wednesday, with EU foreign chief Catherine Ashton (file photo) hopeful that Iran would respond positively to a new offer designed to persuade it to scale back its nuclear programme.
Envoys from the Mideast diplomatic quartet – comprising the US, the UN, Russia and the EU – called Friday for Israel and the Palestinians to launch a new round of direct peace talks aiming for a deal by the end of 2012.
European Union diplomacy chief Catherine Ashton (pictured) said Thursday that the EU may add President Bashar al-Assad to the list of Syrian officials targeted by EU sanctions for their role in the country’s bloody crackdown on protesters.
The European Union will open an office in the rebel stronghold of Benghazi to offer support to the Libyan rebels' political body, the Interim Transitional National Council, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton (pictured) said Wednesday.
The EU’s common foreign policy was strengthened back in 2009 by the Lisbon treaty, which created a new post to help ensure its coordination. But in the past few weeks it has faced its first major hurdle with the Arab springs and all that has ensued in Libya; all this on Europe's doorstep..
The mass landing of Tunisian illegal migrants on the tiny Italian island of Lampedusa has highlighted the European Union’s continuing struggle to find a coordinated approach to the hot-button issue of immigration.
European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton (pictured) has announced a 258-million-euro ($347 million) aid package to help Tunisia's interim government cope with social and economic turmoil.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Sunday he hoped for further talks with world powers on the country's nuclear programme after two days of negotiations in Istanbul ended without progress.
Multilateral talks on Iran's nuclear programme ended without agreement Saturday, with Iranian envoy Saeed Jalili (right) insisting on the right to enrich uranium. EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton (left) called the outcome "disappointing".
We speak with Pierre Vimont, the first ever Secretary General of Europe's External Action Service, whose mission is to speak with one voice on foreign policy for the 27 member states of the EU. A former French ambassador to the US, Vimont was appointed by High Representative Catherine Ashton. He addresses issues as varied as the Tunisian regime change, the presidential standoff in Ivory Coast and the Iran nuclear talks.
