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Page last updated at 07:47 GMT, Wednesday, 10 March 2010

Ashton 'may surprise us all'

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Baroness Ashton will today appear before the European Parliament in Strasbourg to try and persuade MEPs that she can successfully lead the creation of a new European Diplomatic Service. Her appointment as the European Union's new foreign affairs chief has been criticised by the press and other EU politicians for lacking experience and a vision.

Europe editor Gavin Hewitt reports on the challenges Baroness Ashton faces.

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