Diplomacy related content 

EU's foreign policy chief responds to criticism from foreign ministers of 12 member states. Catherine Ashton, the European Union's foreign policy chief, has been forced to...

The European External Action Service has had a difficult first 12 months, and hopes have faded that Catherine Ashton will settle into her role as EU foreign policy chief. The...

Some of the outlines of the strategy that the EU's diplomatic service needs. The first 12 months of the European External Action Service (EEAS), which formally came into...

The EU's greater foreign-policy ambitions are being reflected in EU studies courses. Next week (25-26 October), the College of Europe will host a conference on challenges...

No one gets excited by trade session of the EU's Foreign Affairs Council. Monday's trade session of the EU's Foreign Affairs Council was hardly among the highlights of...

EEAS appointment raises eyebrows. The round of appointments made over the summer to the EU's diplomatic service featured an element of  ‘catching up' for the member...

UK warns against ‘competence creep', while smaller countries want to expand delegations' role. Conflicting visions for the European External Action Service (EEAS) lie...

Germany's foreign minister rebuffs Belgian critique of the EU's foreign policy chief. Guido Westerwelle, Germany's foreign minister, has expressed strong support for...

Greek diplomat appointed as managing director for global affairs. Catherine Ashton, the EU's foreign policy chief, has appointed Maria Marinaki, a Greek career diplomat, as...

Raka Singh on how cultural diplomacy can sometimes work better than more conventional styles. When a government is planning its six-month presidency of the Council of...

Diplomats from Belgium, France and Germany given senior roles in European External Action Service. Catherine Ashton, the EU's foreign policy chief, has made three...

There is something in the nature of traditional diplomacy that limits diplomats' ability to see change looming. Why do revolutions so often take professional diplomats by...

Discussions on EUSR put back until February. EU foreign ministers have delayed discussion about beefing up the EU's presence in Bosnia amid continuing uncertainty about how...

UK is best represented at senior level and only three posts have been given to women. With 26 of the 31 most senior positions now filled in the headquarters of the European...

Managing directors for Middle East and Asia named. Catherine Ashton, the EU foreign policy chief, announced today (21 December) the appointment of two departmental heads for...

Italian appointed to senior diplomatic post. Catherine Ashton, the European Union's foreign policy chief, today appointed Agostino Miozzo as crisis co-ordinator in the EU's...

A German and a Pole to serve as deputy secretaries-general of the EU's new diplomatic service. Catherine Ashton, the European Union's foreign policy chief, has appointed...

Catherine Ashton praises 'brightest and best' appointments. Pierre Vimont, France's ambassador to the United States, and David O'Sullivan, the European Commission's...

The new diplomatic service might make Europe more unified, but only a new diplomacy can make it an environmental superpower. Unity is often said to be the prerequisite for...

How many senior management posts is too many? Ingebord Grässle, a German centre-right MEP, is frequently interesting and entertaining, even though she is not always as...