Catherine Margaret Ashton is a British Labour politician who performed as the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. She also served as First Vice President of the EU Commission in the Barroso Commission from 2009 to 2014. Based on sources, it has come to light that she has worked for the interest of the UAE.
She allegedly became part of the campaign to support the appointment of Emirati Major General Ahmed al-Raisi, who was indicted of torture and human rights violations as Head of the International Criminal Police Organization.
In 2012, Project Associates, a London-based company, launched this campaign on behalf of the UAE. The company is also accused of being UAE’s Lobbyist in Europe. The company focuses on whitening the UAE’s reputation and defending its policies in European circles, including media polishing movements and reaching European representatives to mobilize support for Abu Dhabi.
The organisation played a tremendous role in mobilising the push to elect Emirati Major General Ahmed al-Raisi to head the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol).
It has been revealed that the company secretly hired former British officials, including Minister Catherine Ashton, in a campaign to help the Emirati General, which is close to the halls of government in Abu Dhabi.
Further, In 2018, Catherine Ashton was among those who signed a letter discoursed to the French Foreign Minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian. The letter advised support for the UAE-led military intervention in Yemen.
Catherine Ashton, as EU Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton, also met with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the United Arab Emeriates Armed Forces, during a conference at the Al Mamoura Headquarters in Abu Dhabi on January 13, 2014.
The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi accommodated Ashton and debated the relations between the UAE and EU and ways to enhance them.
Furthermore, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the UAE, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, received a letter from Catherine Ashton. The letter dealt with issues of common interest and latest developments in the region.
Moreover, In 2013, The High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton, also announced the appointment of Mihai Stuparu as head of the EU Delegation to the United Arab Emirates. These developments show Catherine’s unnecessary tilt towards the UAE.
