BRUSSELS, December 5. /TASS/. Catherine Ashton will stay on as the European Union’s adviser on the talks between the P5+1 group of international mediators (the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council plus Germany) and Iran on the latter’s nuclear programme, the European Union said on Friday.

“To ensure the continuity of negotiations, which require full-time dedication, Catherine Ashton will facilitate the talks,” the European Union said in statement.

From November 1, 2014, Ashton was superseded as the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy by Federica Mogherini of Italy. Despite this fact, Ashton continued to coordinate the Iranian nuclear talks till November 24, when an agreement on the Iranian nuclear programme was expected to be signed. However Iran and the six powers failed to sign this document but decided to extend the negotiating process till June 30.