18th ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting Concludes

2010-06-21

Madrid, 27 May 2010 The 18th ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting wrapped up yesterday in Madrid, and agreed upon a new indicative list of activities for 2011-2012 to further implement the Phnom Penh Agenda, an action programme for closer ties between ASEAN and the EU which was agreed at last year’s meeting.

The meeting, themed “Partners in Regional Integration”, was co-chaired by H.E. Miguel Ángel Moratinos, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Co-operation of Spain; Lady Catherine Ashton, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the European Commission; and His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Brunei Darussalam.

The Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr Surin Pitsuwan, expressed satisfaction on the renewed commitment from both ASEAN and the EU to intensify their relations. Dr Surin hoped that while ASEAN will internally determine how best to coordinate and enhance its collective representation to the EU, the latter would subsequently extend its support.

With more than 30 years of mutually beneficial cooperation, ASEAN and the European Union have reached a new stage in its relations, a much more matured and higher level of cooperation after the entry into force of the ASEAN Charter and the Lisbon Treaty. This new institutional change in the EU, and also in ASEAN, is expected to lead the way to regular and effective consultations between both parties.

The two-day meeting also exchanged views on issues of mutual interest and concern, from regional and international issues, non-traditional and traditional security challenges, climate change and environment to the economic crisis and its aftermath.

The 19th ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting will take place in Brunei Darussalam in 2012.