EU's foreign policy chief seeks to spell out agenda

Ashton, 53, was EU leaders' surprise choice to be their high representative for foreign affairs and security policy at a summit last November, succeeding Spain's Javier Solana in the high-profile post despite having no diplomatic experience.

The Briton, a former health administrator and EU trade commissioner who has never held elected office, made a stumbling start, leaving many media commentators and diplomats to dismiss her as a lightweight novice, ill-suited for the portfolio.

At the weekend she began a fight back against her critics, laying out the framework for a new European diplomatic corps at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Spain and winning broad support for her plans.

On Wednesday, in a speech to the European Parliament, she will set out her foreign policy agenda in more detail, with the Middle East, Iran, Ukraine and the Balkans expected to figure prominently, as well as the diplomatic service initiative.

Next week she will visit Israel, the West Bank, Egypt, Syria and Jordan to give EU impetus to the Middle East process at a time when Israel and the Palestinians look set to start indirect talks via the United States on resolving statehood issues.

"The next month is going to be a big test of her substance," said an EU diplomat who handles foreign affairs.

"Everything that's gone before has been 'who said what about whom'. Now it's about the actual substance of foreign policy. She needs to set out where EU foreign policy is going for the rest of her five-year mandate," he said.

COMMON GOALS?

While Ashton may have ambitious foreign policy plans, giving the European Union more clout in international diplomacy -- the sort of influence that matches its strength in global trade and finance and its 500 million population -- is a tall order.