Statement by Javier Solana

EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy from 1999 to 2009 My mandate as EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy came to an end on 30 November. I want to thank everybody for the interest, support and dedication with which they have followed our activities over the past decade.

Catherine Ashton with Javier Solana
Photo: Council of the European Union

We can be justly proud of our achievements. In ten years, Europe has become a global player whose voice is heard on every continent. We have developed a foreign policy, with the crisis-management structures and tools to underpin it. The European Union is working hard across the world to make a difference to people's lives where its missions are deployed.

With the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, we must continue our engagement in foreign policy and further develop what we have begun.

I congratulate Catherine Ashton on taking office as High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and I wish her every success. She will have my full support.

More information:
Website of the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy