On the occasion of his last day in office as High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana made today the following statement, which is addressed in particular to those that followed the activities of the European Union during his tenure. 

"My mandate as EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy comes to an end today. I want to thank everybody and in particular the press and media for the interest with which they have followed our work over the past decade.

Over the last ten years, Europe has become a global player whose voice is heard on every continent. We have developed a foreign policy, with the structures and tools to underpin it.

The European Union is working hard to make a difference to people's lives where its missions are deployed. The media have played a vital role in all this with its coverage of our activities and I know that they will continue to do so."

Solana will clear the place for Catherine Ashton, the newly-nominated High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy; no doubt, some countries in the middle east were saddened by Solana's leaving.

Javier Solana will be surely remembered as one of the most interesting figures in the region's political landscape, saving no criticism from those who did not align the Union's worldview.

No doubt, as some officials estimate, this is not the last word we will hear of the former high representative; Others even estimate that he will be back to Brussels' arena more powerful than before.