Catherine Ashton

20-3-1956
Catherine Ashton was born in Upholland,Lancashire, England
Her family was a working-class family, with a background in coal mining going back generations.
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In Her chidhood:
Catherine Ashton attended ( Upholland Grammar School) in Billinge Higher End, Lancashire,
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After This :
Catherine Ashton attended (Wigan Mining and Technical College)in Wigan

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Then :
Catherine Ashton went on to study in (Bedford College), London.
(now part of Royal Holloway, University of London).
She was the first person in her family to attend University.
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1977
Catherine Ashton graduated with a BSc in Sociology from (Bedford College), London
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1999
Mrs Catherine Ashton was made a Labour life peer as a result of her work towards building communities
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June 2001
Mrs Catherine Ashton was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department of Education and Skills.
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2002
Mrs Catherine Ashton was made responsible for the "Sure Start" initiative in the same department.
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September 2004
Mrs Ashton was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary in the Department for Constitutional Affairs.
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2005
Mrs Catherine Ashton was voted “Minister of the Year” by The House Magazine and “Peer of the Year” by Channel 4.
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2006
Mrs Catherine Ashton won the “Politician of the Year” award at the annual Stonewall Awards.
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June 2007
Catherine Ashton was appointed to the Cabinet of the British Labour Government as Leader of the upper Parliamentary chamber, the House of Lords.

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Catherine Ashton was the member of the Commission responsible for trade.

Mrs Catherine Ashton led major negotiations on the Free Trade Agreement with Korea, finalised in October 2009, and solved a number of high-profile trade disputes with major trading partners.
Mrs Catherine Ashton also championed trade as a means of promoting development around the world, putting the EU's economic relationship with African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries on a firmer footing.

Catherine Ashton also represented the EU in the Doha Round of world trade talks and built on strong bilateral trade and investment relationships.


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November 2009
Catherine Ashton was appointed as the EU’s first High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission (HR/VP).

This new position was created under the Lisbon Treaty and the holder is charged with coordinating the EU's Common foreign and security policy. The post combines previously separate roles – to make EU foreign policy more consistent and coherent.

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1-1-2011
European External Action (EEAS), formed by merging Commission and Council foreign policy departments and bringing in diplomats from national diplomatic services.
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2011 till Date
The High Representative/Vice-President is supported in her work by the European External Action (EEAS),
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May 2012:
Catherine Ashton was honoured with the BusinessMed Blue Award. The award was presented to her in recognition of her efforts in promoting peace and economic development in the Mediterranean region. The Blue award – also known as “Mare Nostrum” - is a prize awarded each year to a personality selected by the Union of Mediterranean Confederations of Enterprises (BusinessMed).
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Her Family:
Mrs Catherine Ashton is married and has two children and three stepchildren.
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Source of This Topic :
http://www.eeas.europa.eu/ashton/