Stepping stone to ‘Solidarity – Closer Cooperation’ between ASEAN and the EU

ASEAN and the EU are natural partners. The two regional organizations both register USD227 billion in two-way trade. ASEAN enjoys USD19.7 billion in FDI net inflows, with the EU being its third largest trading partner and largest investor. The EU is also the second highest source of tourists coming to the ASEAN region, with 9.3 million tourist arrivals in 2015.
The two regions have a shared commitment to putting people at the centre of their policies, advancing good governance, human rights and promoting respect for diversity, based on their common principle of drawing strength from diversity, through the inter-regional ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting (AEMM), organized biennially. 
The 21st ASEAN – EU Ministerial Meeting from 13 – 14 October 2016 in Bangkok has been recognized as a platform to “strengthen cooperation” in all dimensions between both regions. 
Jointly chaired by Mr. Don Pramudwinai, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand, and Mr. Miroslav Lajčák, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic, representing the EU presidency, the meeting was attended by ministers of foreign affairs from the ASEAN and EU Member States, the ASEAN Secretary-General, high-level representatives in charge of foreign policy and security affairs from the EU, as well as the Vice President of the European Commission. In total, representatives from 10 ASEAN and 28 EU Member States, the ASEAN Secretariat, the EU Secretariat and 16 foreign affairs ministers including Kristian Jensen from Denmark, Vivian Balakrishnan from Singapore and Saleumxay Kommasith from Lao PDR, participated in the meeting. 
Under the theme “Towards a Strategic Partnership”, the meeting aimed to discuss how to advance ASEAN-EU relations both at the regional and international levels to pave the way for elevating the ASEAN-EU partnership to a strategic level in the areas of the economy, education, public health and trade, as well as to set the course for the future direction of their relations so as to achieve the utmost mutualbenefits.
Aside from being engaged in dialogue on different issues, the AEMM has adopted a Bangkok Declaration and Bangkok Roadmap for Elevating the ASEAN-EU Enhanced Partnership to a Strategic Level (2016-2017).
The Bangkok Declarationserves as a cooperative framework to foster the ASEAN-EU partnership, putting people at the centre of its policies. It aims to promote strategic cooperation of all three pillars including countering political, security and inter-regional terrorism threats, boosting inter-regional trade and investment through the FTA, and bolstering education and culture as well as sustainable development. It also emphasizes engagement from all parties to elevate the ASEAN-EU enhanced partnership to a strategic level, while attaching importance to building interaction and closer dialogue under the cooperative framework through various meetings.
Similarly, the Bangkok Roadmap for Elevating the ASEAN-EU Enhanced Partnership signals a starting point for upgrading ASEAN-EU relations, from an enhanced partnership to a strategic one (2016-2017), which will help both sides achieve their goals and in accelerating the determination of the ASEAN-EU action plan (2018-2022).
Mr. Lajčákrevealed that the meeting proceeded smoothly and discussed the future direction of cooperation between the two regions in various issues. Despite their differing backgrounds, they have shared a commitment to elevate and foster strategic cooperation in order to achieve their goal towardsa strategic partnership. The discussionled to joint efforts to resolve problems such as economic recovery in the EU, security, human rights, migrants and migrant labour, and global warming. He added that the EU planned to engage in strategic peace talks with ASEAN more frequently, and stressed that Britain’s exit from the EU would not in any way affect ASEAN-EU trade.
Prior to the commencement of the meeting, Mr. Lajčák expressed his condolences to Thailand, serving as the Country Coordinator for the 21st ASEAN – EU Ministerial Meeting, on the passing of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
The 21st AEMM also sought to promote access to its outcomes for all, including people with disabilities. Therefore, the Open Session of the Meeting was translated in sign language (Thai and English) and the outcomes documents were made available in Braille and other relevant formats.
Mr. Don Pramudwinaisaid Thailand, as a country that enjoys long-standing relations with Europe and as the current Country Coordinator for ASEAN-EU Dialogue Relations, attaches great importance to the AEMM and to building the momentum of ASEAN-EU cooperation towards a Strategic Partnership.
The first agreement to be raised for discussion is the “ASEAN-EU Air Transport Agreement” in a meeting to be held during 26-28 October 2016.