That is a sure formula for blocking agreement, not achieving it.
If Iran succeeds in blocking agreement on sanctions at the Security Council, it might calculate it was home free.
Meanwhile, one of the issues blocking agreement with European deputies was who would become Ms. Ashton's deputy when she is unable to appear before the European Parliament.
In the past, the European parliament has also acted as the EU's collective conscience and has blocked agreements with countries whose human rights record was poor.
As the biggest economies, each can block agreement.
The Spanish and Polish governments blocked agreement in December.
Even now, vested interests may block agreement with the IMF.
An EU negotiating source says: "It's ridiculous to block agreement for so little".
"It's ridiculous to block agreement for so little," one EU negotiating source said.
The debate highlights one of those fundamental philosophical divisions that have so often blocked agreement on health policy.
