**The EU’s foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, says Europe has a “once in a generation opportunity” to build a robust new diplomatic service.**Addressing the European Parliament, Lady Ashton pointed to EU successes in the post-conflict Western Balkans as a model for future action.
She said that in the Western Balkans “more than anywhere else” the EU “cannot afford to fail”.
MEPs are discussing the structure of a new European External Action Service.
The service - known as the EEAS - is the focus of intense debate between the EU’s institutions, which want to ensure their influence is not diluted.
A BBC correspondent in Brussels says Lady Ashton has been criticised as too inexperienced for the new job of EU High Representative - and she must convince MEPs that she can provide the leadership such a complex project needs.
Our correspondent says her biggest battle remains with those in the EU’s executive arm - the European Commission - who are reluctant to surrender powers that member states want to delegate to the new foreign service.