Brussels, 15/03/2007 (Agence Europe) - In this year of anniversaries - the 50th of the Treaty of Rome, the 40th of the creation of ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) and the 30th since dialogue was established between the EU and ten member states of the organisation - Europeans and Asians decided, on Thursday 15 March, to consolidate their cooperation in a vast range of areas. EU27 foreign ministers and their ASEAN counterparts adopted the Nuremberg Declaration that sets out their many intentions, which are now to be translated into an action plan of more practical effect.
At the political level, the dialogue between the EU and ASEAN will be enhanced to promote peace and stability in Asia and in the Pacific region, the declaration announces, placing emphasis on multilateralism as well as on the United Nations and the World Trade Organisation (WTO). The fight against terrorism, the trafficking of human beings, drug trafficking, piracy at sea, arms trafficking, money laundering, and cyber crime are also concerned. Special attention will be paid to disarmament and the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, ministers say, welcoming the creation of a denuclearised zone in South East Asia (SEANWFZ).
The economic chapter of their cooperation will continue to enjoy the advantages of the trans-regional EU-ASEAN (TREATI) trade initiative launched in 2003, mainly with a view to launching talks between the EU and ASEAN on free trade agreements. It goes on to recall their attachment to concluding the Doha Round, which allows equitable advantages to be gained from globalisation and liberalisation and takes into account the needs of developing countries.
The EU and ASEAN trust that their dialogue on energy will lead to the promotion of energy security, as well as to sustainable energy and multilateral measures in favour of stable, effective and transparent international markets. Both partners place emphasis on the exchange of information and of experience in the field of renewable energies and hope for rapid implementation of the United Nations framework convention on climate change and of its Kyoto Protocol. The declaration therefore underlines the need for closer cooperation in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to improve the quality of air and thus open the road to talks on a global and far-reaching post-Kyoto agreement. Environmental conservation, the management of natural resources and biodiversity are also part of the areas of cooperation suggested.
In socio-cultural terms, foreign ministers plan to work closely together with a view to attaining the Millennium Development Goals and to fight against the spread of infectious diseases (AIDs/HIV, SARS and avian flu). The promotion of person-to-person contact, dialogue between different religions, cultural exchanges in the field of the arts, and information, communication and scientific technologies are also mentioned. (ab)