Europe is determined to pursue even closer ties with the world’s “most vibrant region”, EU Vice President and High Representative Josep Borrell declared at the outset of the EU-ASEAN [Association of Southeast Asian Nations] Ministerial Meeting in Jakarta, yesterday.
Stressing the EU’s need “to be more present here”, Borrell cited ASEAN’s “vibrant economy” and “geopolitical power”, and pointed out how the EU’s focus is on building and strengthening trade and development links between what he called the world’s two “most advanced regional integration organisations.”
Borrell, in Jakarta to attend the EU-ASEAN Ministerial Meeting and the ASEAN Regional Forum, hopes to hold bilateral meetings with ASEAN countries to discuss regional tensions “and how we can contribute together to face global challenges and to develop multilateralism.”
If ordinary citizens are “to understand the advantages of working together at the regional level, and working together as regional blocks that we represent – the European Union and ASEAN” – that work must be sustained “by working together on facing the world challenges”, he said.
Borrell noted how international law is being violated by the Russian aggression against Ukraine, and how the EU is doing all it can to support Ukraine’s efforts to maintain its territorial integrity and to condemn the acts of violence inflicted by Russian forces on the civilian population.
Borrell flagged Europe’s concerns about the possibility of Myanmar becoming the ASEAN Coordinator for relations with the EU. Since the EU does not recognise the military junta, Brussels trusts that ASEAN will come up with “a solution to overcome this issue.”
Highlighting the EU-ASEAN Strategic Partnership, Borrell cited the Comprehensive Air Transport Agreement, the common Plan of Action, and last December’s Commemorative Summit in Brussels that marked 45 years of EU-ASEAN relations. He looked forward to a decision this year about holding regular leadership summits.
