Brussels, 03/07/2015 (Agence Europe) - During a meeting of senior officials in Brussels on Thursday 2 July, the EU and ASEAN (Burma/Myanmar, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam) discussed the future direction of the enhanced partnership between the two blocs (in the light of the results of the EU-ASEAN ministerial meeting in July 2014, and of the informal discussion of the leaders of the two blocs on the sidelines of the EU-ASEM summit in Milan on 16 October 2014).
The parties confirmed their common resolve to work for a strategic partnership incorporating all the aspects of mutual interest - including political and security cooperation. The parties agreed on the need for mechanisms to step up the work for this, and they hailed Thailand's offer (as a neighbouring country that will coordinate relations with the EU) of taking this project forward.
The parties hailed the strategy proposed by the European Commission on 18 May, which was supported by the EU Foreign Affairs Council on 22 June (see EUROPE 11318 and 11340), to strengthen bilateral relations. On Thursday, the parties emphasised subjects of common interest such as maritime security, cooperation on transnational crime and counter-terrorism, connectivity, business, trade and investment, climate change, the environment, and disaster management.
Special attention was also paid to the challenge of illegal migration and human trafficking, and the parties agreed on the need for comprehensive regional responses - including those linked to fighting the deep-rooted causes of migration, and those linked to helping and protecting people.
As regards trade and investment, the European External Action Service (EEAS) says in a press release that the parties shared “positive views”, hailing the results of consultations in Kuala Lumpur on 26 April between European Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmström and the ASEAN bloc ministers for economy. The EU and ASEAN agreed on 26 April to take initiatives by the end of 2015 with a view to relaunching the bloc-to-bloc free trade talks.
The parties also held a “very constructive” discussion on the EU's support for implementing the plan for ASEAN connectivity, and the EU reaffirmed its commitment to this.
As regards the climate, the outlook for closer cooperation was underlined - ahead of the UN conference (COP 21) in Paris in December.
The parties also stressed the importance of cooperation on human rights. The ASEAN intergovernmental commission on human rights is expected to visit Brussels in October.
Regional and international issues of common interest were also assessed - including the situation in Ukraine, the Iranian nuclear programme and the situation in the South China Sea. ASEAN reiterated its concerns on recent developments in the South China Sea, and the parties supported the ongoing efforts between ASEAN and China for a code of conduct in these waters.
In addition, the parties recalled the joint EU-ASEAN statement on the crash of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in East Ukraine and the need to bring the perpetrators to justice. (Emmanuel Hagry)