Catherine Ashton: 'My Job Is to Keep Traffic Moving'

Europe's Foreign Minister Catherine Ashton spoke with TIME senior editor Simon Robinson and correspondent Leo Cendrowicz. Highlights:

Let's get to what Europe stands for, which for an outsider is quite ill-defined. What is Europe's foreign policy?
When I was E.U. trade commissioner, I represented an economic superpower of 500 million people. And that meant I could do better trade deals. I was able to represent the E.U. more clearly. In foreign policy, there are times when speaking with one voice — and it doesn't have to be mine — allows us to engage better on issues, and enables us to do things more effectively. For example, if we are trying to do things around development, then as 27 nations we can bring together resources and provide support in different countries. If we are thinking about what we can do together in Haiti, being able to coordinate effectively makes us more able to respond. (See pictures from Haiti's devastating earthquake.)

You are supposed to represent a united European foreign policy, but E.U. politicians still seem reluctant to cede the limelight. If another Iraq ... occurred, how could you ensure a united European response?
Let's get out of the limelight first. Someone asked if I would be able to stop the traffic in Washington, but 
 in fact my job is to keep traffic moving. I'm not interested in the limelight. I'm interested in what we can actually do. The way the E.U. approaches the issue is that we will look for a consensus if there is one. It doesn't mean there will be one. But we also need someone who will look for a European perspective on things governments think of nationally. I chair the E.U.'s Foreign Affairs Council, which is a monthly meeting of foreign ministers, where we come together over an agenda, set by me, based on what I know member states want to discuss. It aims to find consensus. My job is to lead the development of European foreign policy ideas. But I recognize that on some issues, there will not be a consensus. There will be different views. (See pictures of immigration in Europe.)

How do you resolve that? You have talked of a "highest common factor" and not a "lowest common denominator." How do you ensure higher ideals?
My job is to move the policy on. Not just for the E.U., but other parts of the world. There is the old idea, which still resonates, that you support the ideals you hold. Not to impose, but to help with issues like nation building. To do that, we should be ambitious. There is no lack of ambition in the Foreign Affairs Council. I have to do it within the constraints of needing to build a consensus and with the resources we have. But there is no lack of ambition when we start to talk.

What are Europe's ideals?
Democracy. Human rights. Wanting to see stable, secure nations, with whom we enjoy political dialogue and economic relationships. (Read: "Denial and Anger in Italy.")

How do you cope with a situation when those ideals are brought into question? Europe might want to see progress on democracy, but one member might choose not to make that a priority. What if, say, Germany strikes business deals with Russia?
There is no difference to how Germany approaches Russia and any other member state's approach. Russia is a key player in our relationship. Russia is part of the Middle East "quartet." We also have a strong trading relationship. We would like Russia in the World Trade Organization. We have regular summits and dialogues with them at different levels. If you take any strategic partnership with any country, there will be some member states that will have a stronger or different relationship. The point about bringing the 27 together is that you have an established, coherent approach to that.

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