BRUSSELS, Jan 22 (TNA) – Ministers from ASEAN and
European Union agreed in principle to elevate their status to a strategic
partnership at the 22nd EU-ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Brussels on Monday.
Foreign ministers of the European Union and their
counterparts from the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN) were previously expected to upgrade their relations to a Strategic
Partnership during this meeting. But Malaysia’s and Indonesia’s concerns over
adverse effects of EU measures on their palm oil industries led to a
delay.
However, the two sides agreed to establish a joint working
group between the EU and relevant ASEAN member states to address issues
relating to palm oil.
Thailand, as ASEAN Chair, viewed that ASEAN and EU had
practically been strategic partners, Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai
said.
“It’s a matter of time to officially announce the status,
which could be by the end of this year,” Don added.
The ministers reaffirmed ASEAN’s and EU’s roles in shaping
the political, socio-economic, and security agenda for both regions and
globally, he said.
A joint statement states that the agreement signifies
recognition of the partnership in many fields between the two most advanced and
most successful integration processes in the world that stand firmly behind
multilateralism and a rule-based global order.
The EU ministers asked about issues concerning Rakhine state
of Myanmar and the Myanmar minister had provided information on the current
situation, Don said.
The joint statement also mentions Thailand’s agenda as ASEAN
chairmanship in strengthening mutual relations, promoting EU-ASEAN
connectivity, enhancing political and security cooperation.
The ministers also discussed cooperation on regional and
international issues, including global challenges such as climate change and
strengthening the rule-based multilateral system.
They identified priority areas for 2019 such as enhanced
security cooperation, including counterterrorism, transnational crime, maritime
security and cybersecurity.
The meeting was co-chaired by High Representative for
Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini and Minister of Foreign
Affairs of Singapore Vivian Balakrishnan, as ASEAN coordinator for EU
relations.(TNA)
