Brussels, 09/07/2003 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday, the European Commission presented the broad lines of a strategy aimed at "revitalising" the partnership with the countries of South East Asia (ASEAN), for which it proposes a broader, more effective and more flexible cooperation framework than before. The offer, described as comprehensive and realistic in Brussels, covers not only bilateral third generation agreements encompassing human rights, good governance, migration and the fight against terrorism, but also a bloc to bloc trade action plan, the trans-regional EU/ASEAN (TREATI) initiative intended to make partners develop and facilitate their trade and investment without going as far as to engage them in free trade. Only after the Doha round of talks and depending on the progress accomplished between then and now in terms of regulatory convergence, will the Union be seriously able to tackle the issue raised by a number of Asian countries and, with particular insistence, by Singapore. Commissioners Chris Patten and Pascal Lamy will officially present this communication for a new partnership with South East Asia on the occasion of their respective visits to the region, on 23 and 24 July this year.
Mr Patten considers Asia should still appear at the top of the European agenda as "we are not only major trading partners,, but partners in the fight against terrorism, organised crime and drugs trade. Europe is the first donor of development assistance (…) but we can de more together - and today's Communication sets out a flexible strategy for deeper cooperation with individual countries within a regional framework". In doing so, Mr Lamy goes on to say, Europeans also open "a new chapter in EU-ASEAN trade relations. TREATI will help to build trust between both regions: we are ready to match the level of ambition they put in their own process or regional integration", he said.
There are many reasons underpinning this approach already evoked by Europeans in September 2001 when they adopted their strategic framework for enhanced partnerships between Europe and Asia. "We have both become aware of the fact that our relations are beneath their potential after years of fascination for the new Asian tigers and after the financial crisis in 1997 from which they have not yet fully recovered in terms of image, mainly in the eyes of the investors". Also, it is stressed at the Commission, "we apprehend the relationship that is not only economic but also commercial where common interests and aims are obvious but from a holistic point of view", it is stressed at the Commission, with fresh emphasis on the main traits and values in common, as well as the main political interests including deep respect for cultural, religious and linguistic diversity and a commitment in favour of regional integration - and one must above all not underestimate the effort made in Asia to achieve regional integration. It is very important for us, the Commission said. The two blocs also share the same interest for a multipolar world and are increasingly aware that many of the challenges to be raised are truly global, like terrorism, the degradation of the environment, disease, and organised crime, which can only be effectively treated by international cooperation. Finally, it was necessary once and for all to prevent the Burma issue from continuing to dominate relations and encounters with the rest of South East Asia. The new communication, it is insisted in Brussels, focuses on flexible ways of moving forward by circumventing this specific case which blocks relations with the region as a whole.
In this document, the Commission tackles the way to make the existing institutional framework more productive. This framework is not to be abandoned but it traditionally gives rise to repeated discussion on the same subjects. In order to avoid this stumbling block, it proposes to more clearly identify the questions to be submitted to Europe-Asia meetings (ASEM), to ASEAN and to ARF (Forum on security in the Asia-Pacific area in which the Asian countries, including North Korea, take part, as well as the European troika, the United States, Russia, Canada, Australia and New Zealand). Six strategic priorities are suggested for beginning to optimise joint action by Europe and Asia, and especially: 1) Support to regional stability and the fight against terrorism, an area where ASEAN strengthening seems to be the best guarantor of peace and regional stability, and the EU could contribute to this by using ASEAN and ASEM to pursue its political dialogue and share its expertise of regional integration , if necessary; 2) human rights, democratic principles and good governance (the new bilateral agreements should all contain the "essential element" clause; without forgetting to launch specific dialogue with other countries of the region; 3) justice and home affairs (a dimension that the EU hopes to integrate in its external relations); 4) reactivating trade relations and investment; 5) support to the development of the least prosperous countries; and 6) dialogue and cooperation in specific areas (science and technology, education and culture, transport, energy, environment, information society).