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Chris Patten to attend ASEM meeting in Bali

Summary: July 22, 2003: Chris Patten to attend ASEM meeting in Bali (23/24 July) (Brussels)

The European Commissioner for External Relations Chris Patten will attend the forthcoming ASEM Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Bali on 23rd and 24th July, where he will present the European Commission's new Communication "A new Partnership with South East Asia". The meeting is an opportunity to discuss ways to revitalise the Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM) process, shared challenges such as terrorism and non proliferation, as well as the situations in Burma/Myanmar and North Korea. The Commissioner will participate in a number of bilateral and troika-format meetings in Bali, with China, South Korea, Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore and Thailand. On the eve of the meeting, Commissioner Patten said: "Asia is always high on my personal agenda, and our new Communication shows how much importance the European Commission attaches to our relationship with the region. Europe and Asia are not only major trading partners, but partners too in the fight against terrorism and organised crime, and environmental degradation. Europe is a major donor of development assistance to help tackle poverty in the region. There are many areas where we could collaborate more: security, human rights, regional integration and new technologies. I am looking forward to discussing with Asian friends how to make sure our relationship reaches its full potentialI".

The ASEM Foreign Ministers' meeting begins with an informal dinner on the evening of 23rd July. Plenary sessions on the 24th July will cover: Management of the ASEM process; Interim Report of the Task Force on Closer Economic Partnership; Regional and International Issues (including terrorism and non proliferation, situation on the Korean Peninsula and developments in Burma/Myanmar); ASEM enlargement; and New developments in Europe and Asia during which session Commissioner Patten will present the Communication ("A new Partnership with South East Asia") : in which the European Commission proposes:

Commissioner Patten will underline the continued commitment of the EU to the ASEM process as the main vehicle for dialogue between Asia and Europe on global issues.


Background

ASEM

ASEM (the Asia-Europe Meeting) is an informal process of dialogue and co-operation bringing together the fifteen EU Member States and the European Commission, with ten Asian countries (Brunei, China, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam). The ASEM dialogue addresses political, economic and cultural issues, with the objective of strengthening the relationship between our two regions, in a spirit of mutual respect and equal partnership. The first ASEM Summit was held in Bangkok in March 1996, giving rise to an ongoing process including Summit-level meetings every second year, Ministerial-level meetings in the intervening years (although now normally once a year) plus a range of meetings and activities at the working level.

ASEM is a privileged framework where Asian and European countries can discuss the main international and regional developments as well as the major global issues on the international agenda, such as international trade negotiations (Doha Development Round), terrorism, migrations, dialogue of cultures and civilisation, and environment.

EU-South East Asia relations

An agreement between the European Community and the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) entered into force in 1980, providing for Most Favoured Nation treatment for trade between the two regions, a commitment to joint actions for improving commercial, investment and scientific relations and some provisions on development co-operation. Political dialogue is handled through biannual meetings of EU-ASEAN Foreign Ministers while economic dialogue is maintained in regular EC-ASEAN Economic Ministers meetings. Work under the EC-ASEAN agreement is dealt with through a senior officials joint co-operation committee (JCC) supported by a wide range of sub committees at a technical level, on issues ranging from trade to narcotics.

Three bilateral "third generation" agreements have been concluded with Vietnam in 1996, Cambodia and Laos in 1999, before these countries joined ASEAN. These agreements are broader, and contain more detailed provisions than the regional EC-ASEAN agreement. In particular they feature the so-called "essential element clause" concerning human rights and democratic principles. Other provisions concern intellectual property rights, environment, information and drug abuse control, which are not covered in the EC-ASEAN agreement.
At present, in the absence of a specific legal base, bilateral relations with other countries in the region (e.g. Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand) are conducted through ad hoc arrangements for Senior Officials and other meetings. However, these ad hoc meetings do not necessarily cover all issues of interest to the two parties.

ASEAN

The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) encompasses all of the South East Asian countries except East Timor. Its key position in Asia Pacific, its dedication to peace and stability in the region and its important economic weight, have made ASEAN an essential partner for the European Union in Asia. ASEAN was established on August 8, 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand with the signing of the Bangkok declaration by the five original member nations (Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand). In 1984, Brunei Darussalam was admitted as the sixth member and in 1995, Vietnam also joined ASEAN; Lao People's Democratic Republic and Burma/Myanmar became members in 1997. Cambodia joined in 1999. The Member Countries who make up ASEAN have a combined GDP of 656 billion Euros, but large disparities among them. With a population of 532 million people, they make up one of the largest regional markets in the world.

In 2002, the EU was ASEAN's second largest export market and the third largest trading partner after the United States and Japan. EU imports from ASEAN were estimated at € 61 billion, while EU exports to ASEAN were valued at € 42 billion. Main EU imports included machinery, textiles, agricultural products and chemicals.

What is the role of Burma/Myanmar in the EU's Southeast Asia Strategy?

The EU remains deeply concerned about the political situation in Burma/Myanmar.


For details of the Common Position of the EU see:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/myanmar/intro/gac.htm.

Burma is not part of the EC-ASEAN Co-operation Agreement and the Commission cannot agree to include Burma in this agreement before a solution to the political situation has been found. Under the political dialogue we have with all 10 ASEAN countries - in which Burma is included - the aim is to continue to discuss issues of common concern such as terrorism, trafficking and democracy/human rights. The new Communication stresses flexible ways forward to avoid this particular case stalling relations with the region as a whole.


For more information:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/asia/reg/sea.htm

http://europa.eu.int/comm/trade/issues/bilateral/regions/asem/index_en.htm


  • Ref: EC03-205EN
  • EU source: European Commission
  • UN forum: 
  • Date: 22/7/2003


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