Det Udenrigspolitiske Nævn 2011-12, Europaudvalget 2011-12
UPN Alm.del Bilag 82, EUU Alm.del Bilag 200
Offentligt
Catherine AshtonEuropean Commissioner for External TradeCatherine Ashton was born in Upholland in Lancashire, fromwhere she takes her title, Baroness Ashton of Upholland.From 1983-89 she was Director of Business in theCommunity, and established the Employers' Forum onDisability, Opportunity Now, and the Windsor Fellowship.Catherine Ashton chaired the Health Authority inHertfordshire from 1998 to 2001, and became a Vice President of the NationalCouncil for One Parent Families.In 1999 Catherine Ashton became a life peer. She was made Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department for Education and Skills in 2001, and thenParliamentary Under-Secretary in the Department for Constitutional Affairs andsubsequently Ministry of Justice with responsibilities for human rights, freedom ofinformation and equalities. She became a Privy Councillor in May 2006.Catherine Ashton was appointed Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Presidentof the Council in Gordon Brown’s first Cabinet in June 2007. As well as Leader of theLords, she took responsibility in the House of Lords for equalities issues.In 2005 Catherine Ashton was voted House Magazine Minister of the Year andChannel 4 Peer of the Year. In 2006, she was voted Stonewall Politician of the Year.Catherine Ashton brings with her significant European experience, including steeringthe Lisbon Treaty through the UK's upper chamber and dealing with EU justice andhome affairs issues in her previous positions.During her time as Director of Business in the Community, Catherine Ashton workedtogether with companies and communities on creating effective business strategies,while ensuring equality and diversity in the workforce. She gained practicalexperience in what makes companies competitive and what they need to do to beprofitable, while maintaining a foothold in their communities.Catherine Ashton also has experience in international negotiations on trade topics.During her time in the Department of Constitutional Affairs and Justice she hadresponsibility for negotiations on international trade in legal services with India andSouth Africa. The focus was on seeking better access to global markets for lawyersto enable them to provide business-to-business (B2B) services to internationalcompanies and investors.
What is a Privy Councillor?Privy Councillors are members of the Queen's own Council: the 'Privy Council'.There are about five hundred members who have reached high public office.Membership includes all members of the Cabinet, past and present, the Speaker,the leaders of all major political parties, Archbishops and various senior judges aswell as other senior public figures. Their role is to advise the Queen in carrying outher duties as Monarch. In the past Privy Councillors were the chief governing bodyand fulfilled the role that the Cabinet performs today. During debates in theCommons, MPs who are Privy Councillors are referred to by their colleagues as 'TheRight Honourable Member'.What is Stonewall?Stonewall is a privately funded organisation that campaigns and lobbies for equalityand justice for lesbians, gay men and bisexuals.What is Business in the Community?Business in the Community works with companies on responsible business in fourareas: Community, Environment, Marketplace and Workplace. With more than 850companies in membership, Business in the Community represents 1 in 5 of the UKprivate sector workforce and convenes a network of global partners.