[show image: Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb. (YLE) ]
The EU's foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton was in Finland for a first visit Saturday, attending a meeting of several EU foreign ministers at Saariselkä in Finnish Lapland. Finnish Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb used the occasion to lobby for posts for Finns within the Union's foreign policy establishment.
The foreign ministers gathered in Saariselkä spent four hours discussing EU foreign and security policies. According to Stubb, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union, Catherine Ashton, impressed those in attendance.
"I think there is a sort of reverse-Obama effect. A lot was expected of Obama and still is. The expectations about Ashton were modest, but for example this day did a lot to raise those expectations," commented the Finnish Foreign Minister.
Finland is also hoping for Ashton's support in gaining posts for Finns within the new EU foreign affairs establishment. In an interview with YLE, Stubb said that while there is no official wish list, Finland would be pleased with two ambassadorships and 15-30 Finns in various other positions.
The Foreign Minister did, however, point out that the EU is only now mapping out its plans and it will take 2-4 years for them to be implemented.
YLE