EU looks towards its relations with the Indo-Pacific region

The European Union (EU) yesterday (19 April) approved its new strategy for co-operation in the Indo-Pacific region – a region stretching from the east coast of Africa to the Pacific Island States – in which it must "strengthen its presence and actions" in order to "contribute to regional stability, security, prosperity and sustainable development", according to the statement. Part of the strategy involves "making further progress" towards the EU–China Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI), which is still awaiting ratification after the two blocs signed it in December.

The EU is also looking to create an open and fair environment for new Free Trade Agreements with Australia, Indonesia, and New Zealand and those that have already entered into force with Japan, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, and Vietnam. 

Furthermore, the strategy will "continue to explore ways to deepen economic relations with India", according to the 10-page strategy approved by the EU's Foreign Ministers, two weeks before the EU holds a summit with India on 8 May 2021.

The EU believes in the "importance of a meaningful European naval presence in the Indo-Pacific", and plans to organise more joint exercises with its partners in the region.

The EU countries also want to work together with the countries in the region in the field of health, "a crucial new area" where "the coronavirus pandemic has demonstrated the importance of multilateral cooperation". They also want to co-operate in the fight against climate change within the framework of the Paris Agreement and in the field of digital innovation. 

The Indo-Pacific region represents the world’s economic and strategic centre of gravity. It is home to 60% of the world’s population, producing 60% of global GDP, contributing two-thirds of current global growth. By 2030, the overwhelming majority (90%) of the 2.4 billion new middle-class members entering the global economy will live in the Indo-Pacific.

 
Source: commonspace.eu with the European Union

Related articles

Editor's choice
News
Borrell tells the European Parliament that the situation in Afghanistan was critical, but the EU will remain engaged

Borrell tells the European Parliament that the situation in Afghanistan was critical, but the EU will remain engaged

Borrell underlined that the European Union will make every effort to support the peace process and to remain a committed partner to the Afghan people. "Of course, we will have to take into account the evolving situation, but disengagement is not an option.  We are clear on that: there is no alternative to a negotiated political settlement, through inclusive peace talks.
Editor's choice
News
Dozens participate in new Armenia-Azerbaijan dialogue process as societies prepare for the signing of historic peace agreement

Dozens participate in new Armenia-Azerbaijan dialogue process as societies prepare for the signing of historic peace agreement

The governments of Armenia and Azerbaijan have recently agreed the text of a historic peace agreement that ends years of animosity and warfare. The agreement is expected to be signed soon. LINKS Europe, which has a long history of engagement with the process of peace in the region, recently launched a new Armenia-Azerbaijan dialogue format in the framework of the European Union's EU4Peace initiative. In the last two weeks dozens of Armenians and Azerbaijanis, including academics, students, civil society activists, journalists and other professionals, many of them young, were involved. The work is organised in five thematic groups focusing on peace and security, connectivity, environment, governance and gender and equality and in phase 2 of the project, which has just ended, around fifty participants took part in in-person and online meetings, and more than twenty others were involved indirectly. The Chairpersons of the five thematic groups met in Vilnius, 3-6 July to launch the third phase of the program. The five thematic groups are now working on separate reports, which are expected to be finished in November and presented to the two governments and other stakeholders. The reports will outline a vision, up to 2040.

Popular

Editor's choice
News
Dozens participate in new Armenia-Azerbaijan dialogue process as societies prepare for the signing of historic peace agreement

Dozens participate in new Armenia-Azerbaijan dialogue process as societies prepare for the signing of historic peace agreement

The governments of Armenia and Azerbaijan have recently agreed the text of a historic peace agreement that ends years of animosity and warfare. The agreement is expected to be signed soon. LINKS Europe, which has a long history of engagement with the process of peace in the region, recently launched a new Armenia-Azerbaijan dialogue format in the framework of the European Union's EU4Peace initiative. In the last two weeks dozens of Armenians and Azerbaijanis, including academics, students, civil society activists, journalists and other professionals, many of them young, were involved. The work is organised in five thematic groups focusing on peace and security, connectivity, environment, governance and gender and equality and in phase 2 of the project, which has just ended, around fifty participants took part in in-person and online meetings, and more than twenty others were involved indirectly. The Chairpersons of the five thematic groups met in Vilnius, 3-6 July to launch the third phase of the program. The five thematic groups are now working on separate reports, which are expected to be finished in November and presented to the two governments and other stakeholders. The reports will outline a vision, up to 2040.