Incoming EU executives face week of hearings

The European Parliament began a week of hearings Monday, expected to grill 26 incoming EU executives on how they plan to steer the European Union in the next five years in such areas as the economy, trade, foreign policy, financial affairs and antitrust measures.

First up will be the 53-year-old Catherine Ashton, the incoming EU foreign affairs chief, a new powerful position created by a recently adopted reform treaty.

A British Laborite, Ashton was designated as foreign affairs chief by the EU leaders on Nov. 19, who also picked Belgian premier Herman Van Rompuy as the EU's first permanent president.

Van Rompuy took office Dec. 1. His appointment did not require a confirmation by the European Parliament.

Ashton, who was trade commissioner in the last EU executive, said during her first appearance before the assembly's foreign affairs panel on Dec. 2 that she will provide a steady but quiet hand at the helm promoting European policies around the world.

She was criticized for apparently having little foreign affairs experience and is barely know in Washington, Moscow or Beijing.

Ashton dismissed such criticism saying she believes in "quiet diplomacy."

"Often, when doing things out of the limelight, you get the best results," she said.

Parliament officials said Ashton will be questioned on areas such as the Middle East, China and the EU's difficult relationship with Russia.

The EU leaders chose Ashton to mollify British Prime Minister Gordon Brown after he failed to convince his EU colleagues to name Tony Blair, the former British premier, as the EU president.

The 27-member European Commission runs the EU's day to day affairs. The new executive will serve for five years and focus on economic growth, boosting the EU's borderless internal market and step up the EU's clout on the world stage to a level commensurate with its economic heft.

Also appearing for his confirmation hearing Monday will be Olli Rehn of Finland who was in charge of EU enlargement affairs in the outgoing executive and is slated to take on monetary affairs in the next one.