The relations between the EU and ASEAN are characterized by many achievements and many drawbacks in the last decades. Additionally, even though the relations date back to the beginning of the 1970s, they have not fulfilled the expectations of many people in both Europe and Southeast Asia for two main reasons. Firstly, the context in which these relations take place has significantly changed with the end of the Cold War and the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Naturally, the aims and objectives of the relationship have to be much broader than thirty years ago, because they have to take into account these changed international circumstances since they do not take place in a vacuum. Secondly, both ASEAN and the EU developed internally, for example through different rounds of enlargements. These internal developments of the two partners have to be taken into account as well, just as the changed international environment.
Since 2001, owing to the reasons mentioned above, new initiatives were proposed to reinvigorate the relationship and to make it more effective in facing the new, profoundly changed international arena. Can these initiatives achieve the aim of improving the relationship and consequently prepare it for the challenging future? The essay will proceed as follows. Firstly, the ‘spider-web’ of relations between the EU and ASEAN will be portrayed to give an impression of the complexity of the relationship. Secondly, the main developments since 2001 will be introduced and analyzed to be able, thirdly, to conclude if the relations are healthy enough to face the challenges of the future.
At a glance
- Compares EU multi-level governance with ASEAN’s state-centric model
- Examines the 2007 Nuremberg Declaration and its 2007–2012 action plan
- 19 sources in the bibliography
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The ‘Spider-Web’ of the EU-ASEAN Relations
3. The Major Developments in the Relations since 2001
4. Conclusion
Objectives and Themes
This paper examines the development and institutional complexity of relations between the European Union and ASEAN. It asks whether initiatives introduced since 2001 can strengthen their relationship and prepare it for future challenges.
- EU and ASEAN foreign-policy decision-making
- Institutional frameworks for interregional cooperation
- Political and security dialogue through regional forums
- Trade initiatives and free-trade negotiations
- Cooperation priorities and action plans developed since 2001
Excerpt from the Book
The ‘Spider-Web’ of the EU-ASEAN Relations
The relations between ASEAN and the EU take place on different levels. Mainly, this is caused by the division of competences between the different institutions in Brussels and between the institutions and the member-states. Since the end of the bipolar Cold War, the EU aspires to position itself as a global actor on the changing international scene and tries to create a multipolar world. Thus, the foreign policy competences of the EU were enhanced through the introduction of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), the intergovernmental second pillar of the EU, with the Treaty on European Union (TEU) in 1992. This pillar was strengthened with the introduction of the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) a couple of years later. However, this is not the only foreign policy instrument in the ‘tool kit’ of the EU. Even before the TEU, the EU had foreign policy instruments or policies at its disposal, for example, the Common Commercial Policy (CCP) or Development Cooperation, which are situated in the supranational first pillar. Furthermore, a third component of the EU’s foreign policy are the different policies and interests of the twenty-seven member states, which shape the EU’s policy to a considerable extent (Lucarelli, 2006, p. 9).
The foreign policy of the EU includes many specific strands and there are three distinct or main actors who decide on foreign policy in the EU. The European Commission, situated in the supranational first pillar, makes foreign policy mainly through the Directorate-General (DG) External Relations and DG Trade. The Council of Ministers, in the intergovernmental second pillar, and the member-states in their respective capitals. Thus, a traditional definition of foreign policy “as the external actions of a state” (Cameron, 2007, p. XIII) is not very helpful to analyse the EU. Foreign policy in the context of this essay is defined, in accordance with Fraser Camerons’s definition, “as all external actions that are undertaken by the actor [i.e. the EU]” (p. XIV), no matter if they are institutionally situated in the first, second or third pillar of the EU’s framework.
The definition of “all external actions that are undertaken by the actor” (Ibid.) can also be applied to ASEAN, even though it does not have such a developed and complicated system of foreign policy making as the EU. The foreign policy making competence in ASEAN is still completely in the hands of the ten different member-states, because they did not transfer sovereignty in this policy area to any supranational institution, as the EU member-states did to the Commission. Thus, ASEAN’s foreign policy making can be compared to the EU’s Council, since it is the intergovernmental coordination of actions and policies to be pursued, which are arrived at through the consensus of all the member-states. One manifestation of these types of decisions was the establishment of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF). Thus, ASEAN has two levels of foreign policy, namely the actions taken by ASEAN as a whole and the different foreign relations of the member-states.
Chapter Summaries
Introduction: The paper introduces the history of EU–ASEAN relations and identifies changes in the international environment and within both organizations. It sets out the question of whether recent initiatives can prepare the relationship for future challenges.
The ‘Spider-Web’ of the EU-ASEAN Relations: This chapter compares EU and ASEAN foreign-policy structures and traces the agreements, meetings and forums through which the two regions interact.
The Major Developments in the Relations since 2001: This chapter analyzes European Commission strategies, trade initiatives and the 2007 Nuremberg Declaration and action plan.
Conclusion: The final chapter assesses the relationship’s prospects in light of internal developments, shared challenges and the political commitment of both partners.
Keywords
European Union, ASEAN, interregional relations, foreign policy, multi-level governance, regional integration, ASEAN Regional Forum, Asia-Europe Meeting, trade cooperation, free trade agreement, Nuremberg Declaration, political and security cooperation
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this paper about?
It examines relations between the European Union and ASEAN and considers their readiness to address future challenges.
What are its central themes?
The paper covers foreign-policy structures, institutional cooperation, regional dialogue, trade and changing cooperation priorities.
What is the main research question?
It asks whether initiatives introduced since 2001 can improve EU–ASEAN relations and prepare them for future challenges.
What method does the paper use?
The paper analyzes policy documents, agreements and scholarly literature, comparing the two organizations’ decision-making structures and examining developments in their relationship.
What does the main body cover?
It maps the institutions and forums connecting the EU and ASEAN before examining strategies and initiatives developed since 2001.
Which keywords characterize the paper?
Key terms include EU–ASEAN relations, foreign policy, regional integration, multi-level governance, trade cooperation and the Nuremberg Declaration.
How does the paper compare EU and ASEAN decision-making?
It discusses the EU as a system of multi-level governance and ASEAN as a state-centric system, while noting that the models can coexist.
What role do the ASEAN Regional Forum and Asia-Europe Meeting play?
The paper presents them as dialogue forums that connect the two regions alongside their formal bilateral framework.
What 2007 initiatives does the paper examine?
It discusses the Nuremberg Declaration, its action plan and the launch of negotiations for an EU–ASEAN free trade agreement.
- Arbeit zitieren
- MA Judith Becker (Autor:in), 2008, The EU and ASEAN - Ready for the future?, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/88574
