In a joint statement published on the 40th anniversary of the establishment of EU-ASEAN Dialogue Relations on Sunday 6 August, the EU member states and those of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) underlined their resolve "to accelerate efforts in working towards a strategic partnership between ASEAN and the EU by strengthening cooperation both in traditional areas of dialogue and cooperation including trade, connectivity, development cooperation, energy, research and on political and security issues".
"Our cooperation is not only a well-established reality: it is a necessity, and the most logical thing to do for our people (...) We need it to be close and constant but it is not only for us and for our people; we believe it is also for the rest of the world that needs, through global multilateral system of governance (...), us to stand together as strong, reliable, cooperative players in the region and in the world", High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini said in a speech delivered to the EU-ASEAN ministerial meeting in Manila, Philippines.
The EU and ASEAN welcomed the adoption of the new ASEAN-EU plan of action for 2018-2022, which covers concrete cooperation programmes in a wide range of fields, "as a testament to the breadth and depth of the relations between ASEAN and the EU". Cooperation will focus on policy and security, especially strengthening the strategic dialogue and deepening political and security cooperation, and economic cooperation with, among other things, the development of trade and investment.
In their joint statement, the two parties also reaffirm their commitment to stepping up work towards the resumption of the ASEAN-EU free trade agreement negotiations, noting the status of bilateral free trade agreements between several ASEAN and EU member states.
Socio-cultural cooperation, cooperation on connectivity, and integration within the ASEAN and the reduction of development gaps within the ASEAN are also part of the new plan of action.
The EU and ASEAN also reaffirm their "strong commitment to the full and effective implementation" of the Paris Agreement under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, and adopted a joint statement on this.
Additionally, they underline "the full and effective implementation of the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) in its entirety and support the efforts of ASEAN member states and China to work towards the early conclusion of an effective Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC)". ASEAN countries and China are in disagreement over strategic waters in the South China Sea.
Elsewhere, Mogherini represented the EU at the ASEAN regional forum on 7 August.
The plan of action can be consulted at: https://eeas.europa.eu/sites/eeas/files/asean-eu_plan_of_action.pdf. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)