On Monday 15 October, the EU Foreign Affairs Council welcomed the joint communication from the Commission and High Representative of 19 September entitled Elements for an EU Strategy on connecting Europe and Asia (see EUROPE 12099).
In the conclusions they adopted, the ministers explain that the EU will encourage an approach to connectivity that is sustainable, comprehensive and rules-based, and that will foster investment and trade. The European approach is also based on high standards of social and environmental protection, and is inspired by the EU internal market.
According to the Council, connectivity can stimulate growth, jobs and investment, open markets, and free and fair trade. It can furthermore contribute to a transition towards a low carbon emission economy and help countries implement the 2030 agenda, achieve the sustainable development goals and take advantage of the innovation capacity of the private sector and develop new trade models for this purpose.
The EU and the member states will engage in a dialogue with partners in Europe and Asia in order to strengthen connectivity between the two continents, the ministers state. The Council also calls for cooperation to be strengthened at regional level between the EU and Asia, noting that the EU should plan on developing regional approaches for a sustainable economy by identifying the possibilities for cooperation. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)