Press Release: Catherine Ashton appointed as new EU Trade Commissioner

Catherine Ashton was confirmed as the new European Commissioner for External Trade. The appointment by the Council of Ministers followed the departure of Peter Mandelson to take up the position of Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform in the United Kingdom. Commissioner Ashton assumed the duties of Trade Commissioner as of 7 October, 2008. She will soon appear in front of the trade committee of the European Parliament.