UK's Ashton chosen EU foreign minister

EU leaders also agreed to appoint British EU Commissioner Catherine Ashton as the bloc's new high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, or foreign policy chief.

Catherine Ashton, EU foreign minister, said, "... as best as I can to Europe."

53-year-old Catherine Ashton is an economist, and has little foreign affairs experience. But she has proved adept at picking up the busy EU trade portfolio, which she took on after former Commissioner Peter Mandelson last October. She was appointed Leader of the House of Lords in 2007. Ashton helped steer the Lisbon Treaty through Britain's upper house, and has dealt with EU justice and home affairs issues in her previous positions.