Foreign policy: Struggle for coherence remains intense in diplomatic relations

"It was an undoubted success," says Ian Bond of the Centre for European Reform (CER), a London-based think-tank. "It shows that forging a relationship with the EU still has a lot of attractions for its neighbours. Catherine Ashton's patient approach certainly paid off."

Mr Bond of the CER sees the problem in broader terms. "The EU has a lot of instruments –­ the EEAS, trade policy, the aid budget, the civilian crisis management side – but it has not worked out how to get them playing in a harmonious way."