EU, Asean To Endorse Vision Statement To Enhance Partnership


KUALA LUMPUR, March 13 (Bernama) -- European Union ministers will meet their ASEAN counterparts on Wednesday in Nuremberg, Germany, to endorse a Vision Statement on an enhanced EU-ASEAN partnership, laying the basis for closer political relations and cooperation.

At the meeting the EU will express its commitment to support Southeast Asian nations in developing their own form of regional integration.

This bi-annual EU-ASEAN Ministerial Meeting will be attended by representatives from all EU member states as well as the 10 ASEAN countries.

On the eve of the meeting, the EU Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, said in a statement made available to Bernama: "EU relations with ASEAN are becoming increasingly dynamic; Wednesday's meeting, and in particular the adoption of the Vision Statement, shows that our relationship is ready to shift up a gear.

"Europe has led the way in exploring the possibilities and advantages of regional integration. We applaud the initiatives that ASEAN is taking to bring the benefits of deeper regional cooperation to Southeast Asia.
"We will continue to do all we can to support ASEAN in this to help bring greater stability and prosperity to the region."

Since the EU began working on what is called "A New Partnership for South east Asia" in 2003, the progress has included moves towards Partnership and Cooperation Agreements with Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia in areas like migration and human rights.

There have also been dialogues on sectoral issues including climate change, energy and the information society.

A joint EU-ASEAN mission monitored the ceasefire and helped bring back peace Aceh. The EC is currently seeking to negotiate with ASEAN on increasing bilateral trade.

The Vision Statement being considered at the Nuremberg meeting will focus on how to build on 30 years of cooperation since the EU-ASEAN partnership began in 1977.

The document will call for closer political relations at bilateral and multilateral levels and lists areas for joint action, especially in security, energy, environment and development.

-- BERNAMA
http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/ne ... ?id=251175


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