Commissioner Patten to visit Singapore and Indonesia

FR - DE

Commissioner Chris Patten will visit Singapore 29th/30th June and Jakarta 30th June/2nd July. In Singapore he will formally open the European Commission Delegation Office, and hold bilateral meetings with Prime Minister Goh and Trade Minister Yeo. In Jakarta he will be part of the Troika representing the European Union (EU) at the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and at meetings with the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN). There will also be the opportunity for a number of bilateral (EU) meetings with Asian partners including Indonesia, China, Pakistan, India and Thailand, as well as with Vietnam and Japan (as ASEM Coordinators).

On the eve of his visit Mr. Patten said: "I believe that Asia always deserves to be high on Europe's agenda. During my time as External Relations Commissioner we have laid the foundations for closer ties between our two regions. It's a partnership of equals, and I believe we can do still more together to tackle the challenges we all face".

Commissioner Patten's discussions in Singapore will focus on the possibility of a future EU-Singapore bilateral agreement, and relations within the Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM). The opening of the new Delegation office in Singapore is an indication of the EU's active commitment to Singapore, and to South East Asia.

In Jakarta, Commissioner Patten will join other members of the EU Troika (led by High Representative Javier Solana) at ministerial level meetings with ASEAN and ARF. The EU will express support for the strengthening of both organisations: offering assistance to ASEAN in its role fostering regional integration, and backing for the reinforcement of the role of ARF as the only Asia-wide security organisation, in particular in conflict prevention, and in the context of global threats including terrorism and the proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction.

The EU will also be explaining its concerns over the situation in Burma/Myanmar and the impact these have on ASEM enlargement, as set out in the External Relations Council conclusions of 14th June. The EU will make clear that this in no way diminishes the value it attaches to ASEM and that the situation in Burma/Myanmar should not be allowed to block the whole ASEM process. To this effect, the EU will meet Vietnam and Japan, the Asian ASEM Coordinators, to learn what results may have emerged from recent ASEAN-internal meetings with a view to finding a way out of the current impasse.

Commissioner Patten will also be meeting the head of the EU's Election Observation Mission in Indonesia, MEP Glynn Ford.

Background

ASEAN

The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) encompasses all of the South East Asian countries except East Timor. 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. With a population of 532 million people, they make up one of the largest regional markets in the world.

For more information see:

The EU's relations with Asia : Overview:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/asia/index.htm

| Top |