European Chamber's Comment on the New Appointments in EU Go back »

2009-11-21 | All chapters

European Union Chamber of Commerce in China
Official Comment

Regarding:
Prime Minister of Belgium, Herman Van Rompuy was appointed as the first Permanent President of the European Council, and EU Trade Commissioner Catherine Ashton as Vice President of the European Commission and High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on 19th November 2009.

Comment:
Beijing, 20th November 2009. The European Union Chamber of Commerce in China welcomes the appointment of the Prime Minister of Belgium, Herman Van Rompuy as the first Permanent President of the European Council, and EU Trade Commissioner Catherine Ashton as Vice President of the European Commission and High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and congratulates both on their new roles.

The European Chamber strongly believes that the new appointments to these influential roles will greatly help to strengthen the political dialogue between China and Europe on key issues such as improving the trade relationship, tackling climate change and developing responses to the financial crisis. The Chamber is convinced that this important restructuring of the European Union’s political structure resulting from the implementation of the Lisbon Treaty will strengthen the EU’s internal governance and will serve to guarantee the influence on the global stage of the EU’s social, political and economic objectives.

The European Chamber is particularly pleased to note that Baroness Ashton will serve as the primary representative for the EU in Foreign Affairs, as member companies have enjoyed a very successful working relationship with her during her tenure as EU Trade Commissioner.

Said European Chamber President, Joerg Wuttke: “Commissioner Ashton has been an excellent representative for European business internationally and particularly here in China. Our members are very grateful to her for her efforts to promote the interests of European companies here. We are convinced that the relationships that she has built here and the experience she has acquired will serve her well in her new post, and we hope that China will remain an important focus of her work.”

Senior representatives of the European Chamber will hold talks with Commissioner Ashton in Beijing on Monday to brief her in advance of her meetings with Chinese officials in her capacity as Trade Commissioner.

For further information, please contact:
Grace Yao
Press Officer
European Union Chamber of Commerce in China
Phone: +86 10 6462 2066 - 30
Mobile: +86 1367 1168 084
E-mail: gyao@euccc.com.cn

中国欧盟商会官方评论

关于：
欧盟特别峰会于当地时间2009年11月19日在比利时布鲁塞尔召开。比利时首相赫尔曼•范龙佩(Herman Van Rompuy )当选为首位欧洲理事会常任主席，欧盟贸易委员凯瑟琳•阿什顿(Catherine Ashton)当选为欧盟委员会副主席以及外交和安全政策高级代表。

中国欧盟商会的评论：
北京，2009年11月20日。在于19日举行的欧盟特别峰会上，比利时首相赫尔曼•范龙佩(Herman Van Rompuy )当选为首位欧洲理事会常任主席，欧盟贸易委员凯瑟琳•阿什顿(Catherine Ashton)当选为欧盟委员会副主席以及外交和安全政策高级代表，中国欧盟商会对此表示欢迎并祝贺。

中国欧盟商会坚信，这两位新当选的领导人及他们具有影响力的工作职责将有助于促进中欧之间的政治对话，加强中欧之间关于增进贸易关系、应对气候变化及金融危机等重要议题的沟通。商会相信，这一根据《里斯本条约》作出的欧盟政治结构上的重要改变将加强欧盟内部的管理，有利于巩固欧盟在国际社会、政治和经济舞台上的影响力。

对于阿什顿女士当选为欧盟外交高级代表，中国欧盟商会表示由衷的喜悦。在阿什顿女士担任欧盟贸易委员期间，商会的会员企业一直与她保持着成功愉快的合作关系。

中国欧盟商会主席伍德克说：“阿什顿委员是欧盟企业权益在国际舞台上的优秀代表，尤其是在中国。对于她为维护欧盟企业在华利益所作出的努力，我们的会员企业表示衷心的感谢。我们相信，她在中国所建立的良好关系，加上她所拥有的丰富经验，将有助于她的新工作。我们也希望，中国将依然是她的工作重点之一。”

中国欧盟商会的高层代表们将于下周一在京会晤阿什顿委员，与她探讨相关议题，为她作为贸易委员与中国官方的会议作准备。

希望了解更多信息，敬请联系：
姚辰
中国欧盟商会新闻官
电话：+86 (0)10 6462 2066 – 30
手机：+86 1367 1168 084
电邮：gyao@euccc.com.cn

For more information please contact