EU eyes strategic upgrade with Asean by 2027

New Straits Times

3 days ago

KUALA LUMPUR: The European Union is seeking to elevate its partnership with Asean to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership by 2027, as both regions deepen cooperation in trade, technology, and regional stability amid rising global uncertainties.
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas said the bloc was firmly committed to strengthening ties with Asean in the lead-up to the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two sides.
"We must make the 50th anniversary of EU–Asean relations a success. I look forward to working together in the run-up to the Commemorative Summit in 2027.
"I am confident that the substance of our collaboration warrants the elevation of our partnership to that of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership," she said during the Asean Post-Ministerial Conference with the EU here today.
Kallas proposed that both parties begin identifying concrete deliverables in the run-up to the commemorative summit, adding that the EU would host an EU–Asean working lunch in Brussels in November, on the sidelines of the Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum, to prepare the groundwork.
She said that the EU and Asean — two of the world's most prominent regional blocs — shared common values and a mutual responsibility to uphold the rules-based international order, particularly in light of escalating geopolitical tensions.
"In the face of Russia's illegal war of aggression against Ukraine, ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, and heightened tensions in the South China Sea, we stand united as advocates for multilateralism and regional integration," she said.
Kallas also expressed her gratitude to Malaysia and Brunei for supporting the EU's energy diversification efforts, adding that the bloc had been able to reduce its dependency on Russian energy thanks in part to contributions from Asean partners.
She also highlighted Asean's growing importance to the EU, especially in the supply of critical resources.
"European electric vehicles rely on batteries with components sourced from Indonesia. Thailand is the world's leading producer of rubber. Our economies are becoming increasingly interconnected," she said.
Closer EU–Asean collaboration, she added, was essential for tackling global challenges and safeguarding the international rules-based system.
"The EU, and I personally, remain committed to deepening our engagement in this region, including through Asean. The backdrop of our cooperation is one of profound geopolitical instability.
"Many of the principles we once took for granted — territorial integrity, international humanitarian law — are now being challenged."
Together, the EU and Asean account for over 20 per cent of global GDP and nearly a quarter of global trade.
Kallas also cautioned against rising protectionism and economic fragmentation, urging both sides to defend a fair, inclusive, and rules-based global trading system, anchored by the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
"But the European Union remains steadfast in upholding global norms. We are a predictable, reliable partner — for free trade, multilateralism, collaborative problem-solving, and the defence of international law," she said.