The European Union aims to forge an alliance with Southeast Asian countries in denouncing Russian aggression towards Ukraine and China’s more assertive position in the region, at a summit that will serve to launch a new agenda with 10 billion euros in infrastructure projects under the ‘Global Gateway’ initiative.
The meeting will bring together for the first time the leaders of the EU-27 and nine countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in a meeting in Brussels that coincides with 45 years of relations between the two blocs and follows the example of other summits held this year with blocs such as the African Union or the Balkan countries.
The President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, will take advantage of this occasion to meet bilaterally with the leaders of Vietnam and the Philippines before the summit begins.
Although this is not the only European concern, the meeting seeks to forge a common front on the crisis in Ukraine with a joint declaration that insists on the commitment to multilateralism, the world order based on rules and respect for the integrity and sovereignty of countries.
A senior EU official stresses that at a time of great geopolitical uncertainty both blocs reject spheres of influence and the use of force in foreign policy. «ASEAN partners share these concerns of the negative consequences of the Russian invasion having a global impact, also in the region with booming energy and food prices,» he explains.
In any case there are important political differences with this group of countries, consisting of Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei and Singapore, and in Brussels they recognize «hard work» to agree on a common language in the statement on the invasion of Ukraine.
Another key issue is the situation in the South China Sea, a key area for international trade, and in which Beijing’s more assertive position with its threat to use force against Taiwan will also be mentioned, underlining the importance of maintaining peace and prosperity in this area, supporting the role of ASEAN in the region and pointing out the importance of avoiding security risks.
EU OFFERS $10 BILLION IN INFRASTRUCTURE The EU and ASEAN will discuss the common agenda focusing on issues of connectivity, energy transition, trade and digital transition, all issues where the European bloc wants to join the Southeast Asian countries in their economic take-off and increased prosperity.
The EU-27 will put 10 billion euros on the table within the framework of Global Gateway, the investment plan in key infrastructures to counter Chinese influence. According to the EU capital, these funds come from the European budget and can be used both for new projects and to boost initiatives already underway.
This also aims to boost trade between the two blocs. After all, ASEAN is the EU’s third largest trading partner outside Europe, after the United States and China. Free trade agreements are currently in place with Singapore and Vietnam, and others are being negotiated with Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand.
Leaders from both blocs will review the action plan until 2027, which includes issues such as pandemic recovery, sustainable trade, regulated and sustainable connectivity, promotion of decent work, disaster preparedness and security cooperation.
