Leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the EU are expected to meet in Brussels for a summit on 14 December, according to an EU source. The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, said he was looking forward to celebrating 45 years of EU-ASEAN relations in a speech in Cambodia on 4 August.
The ASEAN Ministerial Meeting he attended in Phnom Penh also adopted the 2023-2027 Plan of Action for the implementation of the EU-ASEAN Strategic Partnership. In addition, the two sides plan to sign a comprehensive air transport agreement later this year, Borrell said.
The 23-page Plan of Action lists a series of actions for enhanced political cooperation in security, economy, trade, mobility, health and other areas.
These include strengthening cooperation in the regional and multilateral arenas, and, where “possible or appropriate”, developing joint EU-ASEAN positions. In the face of regional issues in Southeast Asia, the role and centrality of ASEAN must be supported, according to ministers from both blocs.
The Action Plan also focuses on promoting disarmament and combating proliferation. In his speech to ASEAN Ministers, the High Representative stressed the need to stop North Korea’s ballistic missile launches.
On economic issues, increasing trade and investment between the EU and ASEAN is high on the agenda. To this end, both sides want to assess the progress made on a potential EU-ASEAN free trade agreement.
Negotiations for such an agreement were launched in 2007, but put on hold two years later to make way for negotiations in a bilateral format between the EU and several ASEAN countries.
See the action plan: https://aeur.eu/f/2rw (Original version in French by Léa Marchal)