Brussels, 16/05/2006 (Agence Europe) - In a backdrop to a meeting on 14-15 May in Manila of Trade Ministers from the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN): Brunei; Burma/Myanmar; Cambodia; Indonesia; Laos; Malaysia; Philippines; Singapore; Thailand and Vietnam, the Commissioner for Trade Peter Mandelson said that there was now a “solid case” for extending economic cooperation between the two parties and negotiating an EU/ASEAN free trade agreement. The Commissioner explained to the press, “we have a close and strong relation between ASEAN and the EU and we are all agreed that we want to take that relationship to a higher level”. Ways for reinforcing economic cooperation between the Union and ASEAN were explored in a report submitted to the high level “EU/ASEAN Vision Group”, set up last year by Mr Mandelson and his Asian counterparts. This report consists of a feasibility study on setting up a free trade zone and suggests reinforcement of cooperation in certain areas: market access; protection of intellectual property; investment and harmonisation of regulatory standards. The Commissioner explained, “I now have to take that report back to the EU Member States and they should agree to provide a mandate”. Nonetheless, he did say on Monday that the question of human rights in Burma could be a barrier to setting up an EU/ASEAN free trade zone. Mandelson added that if there is an agreement on trade “EU ministers should find a way through”.