Ashton rejects criticism of Fiji staffing
15 June 2011
Catherine Ashton, the European Union's foreign policy chief, has hit back at criticism of the size of the EU's delegation on the Pacific island of Fiji.
Ashton came under fire after PublicServiceEurope.com revealed on June 9 that her External Action Service and the European Commission employ 33 people in Fiji's capital Suva at a total cost of around €3m. The island has a population of 850,000 and a GDP per capita of €3,000. The story, which was later picked up by national media in the UK, came to light as a result of a question posed by the Italian MEP Lorenzo Fontana.
Nigel Farage, leader of the eurosceptic UK Independence Party, told PublicServiceEurope.com: "I wonder why so many people are needed on that idyllic paradise South Pacific island. There is no way that Cathy Ashton needs such a large presence. After all there are only 30 people working in London for the commission, but in Suva they have 33. And €3m for internal EU admin in Fiji is absurd, just absurd."
Ashton was quizzed about the size of the Fiji delegation by members of a House of Lords committee after the story appeared in the the Daily Express newspaper. She replied that many overseas staff were "development people," adding: "I notice that Fiji appeared in one of our beloved newspapers today. All of the staff in Fiji work across the whole region – that is why it is a centralised operation."
A spokesman for Ashton also rejected the criticism in a letter to the Daily Express. The spokesman wrote: "The European Union does have a delegation in Fiji, but this covers the entire south pacific region. It carries out countless development projects on behalf of the EU as well as foreign relations and political work. Comparing the number of staff with our office in London is completely ridiculous as that has a completely different purpose and works with just one country. The idea that our people there are living the life of Riley is frankly insulting. They work hard in a region which has more than its fair share of problems."
The area covered by the delegation includes Pacific nations such as the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of Nauru, the Republic of Palau, the Cook islands and Niue. Meanwhile Ashton has requested an increase in the EEAS budget of 6 per cent.
Ashton came under fire after PublicServiceEurope.com revealed on June 9 that her External Action Service and the European Commission employ 33 people in Fiji's capital Suva at a total cost of around €3m. The island has a population of 850,000 and a GDP per capita of €3,000. The story, which was later picked up by national media in the UK, came to light as a result of a question posed by the Italian MEP Lorenzo Fontana.
Nigel Farage, leader of the eurosceptic UK Independence Party, told PublicServiceEurope.com: "I wonder why so many people are needed on that idyllic paradise South Pacific island. There is no way that Cathy Ashton needs such a large presence. After all there are only 30 people working in London for the commission, but in Suva they have 33. And €3m for internal EU admin in Fiji is absurd, just absurd."
Ashton was quizzed about the size of the Fiji delegation by members of a House of Lords committee after the story appeared in the the Daily Express newspaper. She replied that many overseas staff were "development people," adding: "I notice that Fiji appeared in one of our beloved newspapers today. All of the staff in Fiji work across the whole region – that is why it is a centralised operation."
A spokesman for Ashton also rejected the criticism in a letter to the Daily Express. The spokesman wrote: "The European Union does have a delegation in Fiji, but this covers the entire south pacific region. It carries out countless development projects on behalf of the EU as well as foreign relations and political work. Comparing the number of staff with our office in London is completely ridiculous as that has a completely different purpose and works with just one country. The idea that our people there are living the life of Riley is frankly insulting. They work hard in a region which has more than its fair share of problems."
The area covered by the delegation includes Pacific nations such as the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of Nauru, the Republic of Palau, the Cook islands and Niue. Meanwhile Ashton has requested an increase in the EEAS budget of 6 per cent.
COMMENTS
"Countless projects" they say. With limitless money I take it.
Gawain Towler - EFD/UKIP London
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