Toespraak Eurocommissaris Georgieva over de toekomst van de relatie Europa-Azië (en)

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Allow me to first welcome you all to Brussels, and thank you for travelling from all over Asia and Europe to engage in an important debate on the future of the relations between our two great continents.

It is exciting to see so many experts gathering to discuss the issues that will be at the centre of next October's ASEM Summit when the Heads of State and Government will be hosted by Belgium, with European Council President Herman Van Rompuy i in the chair.

Over the next two days you will be addressing the global challenges of tomorrow, such as:enhancing human security, evolving regional architectures and institutions,improving global economic and financial governance, policies for mitigating the negative effects from globalisation (including policies for trade, sustainable development, sound environmental practices and social cohesion), mutual perceptions of Europe and of Asia, and improving the educational and cultural relations between Asia and Europe.

There is no doubt that the discussions will reinforce ASEM's vital role as a space for contact, dialogue and convergence between Asia and Europe. It is an honour and a privilege to open this meeting.

My remarks today will focus on three main issues:

First, I will reflect on the importance of ASEM in addressing some of the key global challenges that Europe and Asia currently face.

Second, I will explain why, as a Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response I am personally interested in Asia and in ASEM.

And third, I would like to offer some ideas on how ASEM dialogues can enhance Asia’s and Europe’s ability to work together in the future.

Some 15 years ago ASEM was born out of the realisation that, in an increasingly interdependent world, cooperation between Asia and Europe should be not just bilateral, but should also have a regional dimension. As former Korean Foreign Minister, Han Sung-joo said, this process helps us to define ourselves, as well as our regional identity.

The fact this approach makes sense is best demonstrated by the growth in ASEM membership. ASEM will soon include 48 members - and today I am very pleased to welcome Australia, Russia and New Zealand, which will become full members of ASEM in October.

The great historical trend of the past century has been the shift of power from being centred in Europe at the beginning of the 20th century, to one anchored in the Asia Pacific region at its end. The extraordinary geopolitical evolution in Asia has sparked an explosion of regional initiatives in the East, such as the moves within ASEAN toward a new charter and a single market, the setting up of an East Asia Summit, and the so-called ‘noodle-bowl’ of East Asian Free Trade Agreements. It has also positioned Asia to play a crucial role globally. There is no global issue - the financial crisis, climate change or the fight against extremism - that can be meaningfully discussed without Asia's substantive participation. It is on these big global issues where the relevance of ASEM becomes most obvious.

The G20 i that has recently emerged from cooperation on the financial crisis is very much a case in point. Both Europe and Asia have a strong presence in its membership, and the European Commission and ASEAN are included in its meetings. One of the challenges to the legitimacy of the G20 is the lack of common values. And this is exactly what ASEM is about - creating space for dialogue that is inclusive and respectful of different views, and using diversity as an asset in international collaboration.

Much of what the EU i is doing now, in terms of the enhanced engagement with Asia on security, democracy, the environment, trade, financial markets’ regulation, and development, has evolved with an input from ASEM. And ASEM is the right place to pursue further the understanding of Europe among its Asian counterparts.

Today Europe is seen in Asia as more than a just market and an aid donor. But it remains true that Europe continues to have difficulties with fulfilling its potential as a political actor in the region. Some of that has to do with the EU’s internal coherence. Some of it has to do with suspicions about its transatlantic relationship. And some of it has to do with certain Asian views that Europeans, like the rest of the West, have somehow forgotten the virtues of hard work and are doomed to relative economic decline.

But there is also a strong demand for Europe in Asia. The EU is often held up as a model for those who wish to go forward with reconciliation and regional integration. The open and single European market remains a great attraction. The EU’s inclusive approach to democracy and human rights often strikes a chord. Its multilateralist approach to global issues is widely admired. And most Asians regard Europe as a non-threatening influence in their regional and wider security. I just returned from a trip to Kyrgyzstan where I was deeply touched by the confidence of the Kyrgyz authorities and the Kyrgyz people in Europe as a neutral and supportive partner through this especially difficult time.

The success of bodies like ASEM is important for my job as Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response. Any area of work in the Commission that has an international dimension must take Asia's priorities, values and role in the world into account.

Asia is of particular interest for the part of my work related to disaster response because of its own experience with natural disasters. In the last century the Asia/Pacific region suffered 91% of the world’s fatalities and 49% of the world’s damage due to natural disasters. Any serious thinking about disaster preparedness has to take the experience of Asia into account. I was pleased to see that in the ASEM 7 chair's statement, leaders reaffirmed the importance of cooperating on practical disaster preparedness and reconstruction. And in October I will visit the region with the aim to establish personal contacts with key players in disaster preparedness and response, including the ASEAN.

Related to the issue of disaster preparedness and prevention is our broader cooperation on climate change. The science is clear - climate change is happening and it increases the severity and frequency of natural disasters. Among the sectoral dialogues and support programmes underway in ASEM, one of the most important is the bilateral and regional engagement on climate change and energy conservation. Tackling climate change needs the full participation of China, India, Indonesia and others - and it is precisely for this reason that climate change is a priority for the EU at all levels of engagement with Asia.

There are also tremendous opportunities to work together to move towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. The EU remains a major aid donor and contributes to a large number of development programmes in Asia. The European Investment Bank is also increasingly active in the region. But more importantly, the EU sees a dynamic Asia as playing a key role within the donor community. ASEM is an ideal forum for developing closer interactions with longstanding and emerging Asian donors, notably Japan, India and China.

ASEM also has a role to play when it comes to humanitarian aid. Europe and its citizens strongly support solidarity with people in need and see humanitarian aid as a factor for peace and stability. A good example of how EU humanitarian aid has helped to produce results in Asia is Aceh. The relief the EU provided and its presence on the ground after the Tsunami helped people in Aceh deal with the disaster but also paved the way to quietening the conflict in the north of Sumatra. Aceh is a good example of how the EU can be perceived in Asia, as a less ‘threatening’ player than powers such as the US or China. By playing this role Europe can play a significant role as a force for peace.

Like in the rest of the development agenda, humanitarian aid offers a platform to bring traditional and emerging donors together. Building and expanding this platform will be a priority for my work.

I would now like to look at five ways in which we can reinforce Asia-Europe dialogues.

First. There is no doubt that the Lisbon treaty will help the EU to be a more coherent partner for Asia. Lisbon will not necessarily solve all of the difficulties with the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), but it will help Europe developing a medium and long-term strategy covering all aspects of EU action. It will allow the joining up the political and security dimensions with trade, environmental, regulatory and development matters in a more operational way than is possible today. Above all Lisbon will allow Europe to speak with one voice which will make the European case easier to understand. The European Union High Representative, Baroness Catherine Ashton, plays a key role and will be supported by the European External Action Service which is in the process of being set up.

Second. The EU also needs to engage directly with Asia on the response to the financial crisis. A good start was made at the ASEM 7 Summit in Beijing in October 2008, especially in terms of agreeing on the need for better regulation and fiscal stimuli. Europe should also be prepared to accommodate the new economic and financial strength of China and other emerging Asian economies within the IFI’s. And with the advent of the G20 the two sides have a greater interest than ever in cooperating together.

Third,With a US administration increasingly interested in more inclusive approaches, the EU needs to deepen its transatlantic engagement on Asia. This means focussing on issues such as the security and development challenges posed in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and on the question of climate change. The same goes for our relations with China, Japan, India and with Australia (which is a regional power in its own right and has recently been taking positions close to those of the EU).

Fourth.At a time of economic crisis, the EU should maintain its focus on open markets and avoid protectionist approaches that will not only stunt world growth but also endanger relations with Asian countries. At the same time, Europe needs to keep up its efforts to ensure that Asian WTO i commitments are fully complied with.

And fifthly, Europeans need to make greater efforts to better understand Asian culture and aspirations and to encourage more parliamentary, civil society, educational and people-to-people contacts. This involves enhanced support for academicians, student exchanges (like Erasmus Mundus i) and civil society. Today’s conference is just one example of our efforts in this direction. I would particularly welcome the development of more specific ideas over the coming days.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

The European Commission is fully committed to enhance the Asia-Europe dialogue by supporting specific ASEM initiatives such as today’s conference. It is our firm belief that the success of ASEM depends on the oxygen that comes from open and informed debate. We look to you for new ideas and for fresh thinking.

I wish you an excellent, productive and entertaining conference. And I look forward to hearing the results and report of your deliberations.

Thank you for your attention.