Brussels, 22/06/2015 (Agence Europe) - In the conclusions adopted at a meeting in Luxembourg on Monday 22 June, the European foreign affairs ministers confirmed the EU's resolve to strengthen its partnership with the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN). This resolve was shown in a communication from High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini and the European Commission that was published on 20 May.
In its conclusions, the Council reaffirms its support for the regional integration of the ASEAN bloc (Burma/Myanmar, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam) and underlines the EU's strategic interest in strengthening the two regions' relations with each other in a wide range of areas, as stated in the communication of 20 May (see EUROPE 11318).
As regards trade and investment, the Council supports the Commission's initiative to engage in a joint assessment with the ASEAN of the prospects for a region-to-region free trade agreement, based on the agreements negotiated or concluded between the EU and the region's big economies. During ministerial consultations on 26 April, the EU and ASEAN agreed to take initiatives with a view to relaunching the free trade talks between the two regions. By the end of the year, the two parties are due to meet again at senior official level in order to work on this.
The Council also highlights bilateral cooperation on connectivity, and pledges EU financial support for this in the South East Asian bloc through its cooperation programmes. The 28 EU member states also want closer cooperation on transport and civil aviation - particularly with a view to a region-to-region agreement on civil aviation.
On the political level, the Council underlines the need for increased cooperation with the ASEAN bloc on security - including maritime security and the non-traditional security challenges - and it reiterates the EU's offer to contribute more to the ASEAN-led forums on security. The EU also wants to play an active role in other areas - such as non-proliferation and disarmament, terrorism and cross-border crime, emergency response, cyber-security, migration crisis situations, and the trafficking of drugs and humans.
The Council conclusions also highlight what the EU sees as the importance of protecting and promoting human rights, fundamental freedoms and contact between people, and the conclusions say this is an “essential element” of EU-ASEAN relations. The abolition of capital punishment, the situation of vulnerable minorities and women's and girls' rights therefore “need special attention”.
The EU28 also show their desire to bring their positions closer together on global issues - such as the sustainable development goals that will be adopted at the UN summit in New York in September, and developing more effective region-to-region cooperation on climate change ahead of the UN climate conference (COP 21) in Paris in December. The Council supports the idea of initiating a specific new EU-ASEAN dialogue on the environment and sustainable development - which would take account of crucial issues for the EU, like the loss of biodiversity, deforestation, the illegal trade in timber and wildlife, and unsustainable consumption and production patterns.
In addition, the EU reiterates that moving to a strategic partnership between the two blocs requires increased EU presence at high level strategic meetings at regional level - including the EU's involvement in the East Asia summit process. (Emmanuel Hagry)