The EU‘s External Relations with Asia

Dr Sebastian Bersick
National University of Ireland, Cork
German Council on Foreign Relations, Berlin
27th June 2010

Contents
1 Introduction
2 The EU as a Global Actor in Asia
3 The EU‘s Strategic Partnerships in Asia
4 Multilateral Policies
5 The EU and Central Asia
6 Conclusion2

EU aims to increase cooperation with and in Asia
Interaction on bilateral level
Interaction in multilateral fora: ARF, ASEM, SAARC
Economic interests but no vital hard security interests
New Guidelines on the EU‘s foreign and security policy in East Asia namesecurity threats in relation to: North Korea, the Taiwan Strait and China‘s rise

Does the EU have an approach to security and confidence building in
East and Central Asia?

3Contents
1 Introduction
2 The EU as a Global Actor in Asia
3 The EU‘s Strategic Partnerships in Asia
4 Multilateral Policies
5 The EU and Central Asia
6 Conclusion

4

No real European Asia strategy exists
EU is no nation state and an incomplete, evolving political actor
Europeans support conflict resolution, e.g. in Aceh

Intrinsic tendency of Europeans to facilitate region and communitybuilding processes in Asia
EC uses political dialogues, cooperation programmes, humanitarian assistanceas instruments
EU aims to strengthen regional cooperation & rules-based international system

EU follows „vision in which a system of global governance, withregional structures as its cornerstones effectively addresses
trans-regional problems.“ Javier Solana
5Contents
1 Introduction
2 The EU the EU as a Global Actor in Asia
3 The EU‘s Strategic Partnerships in Asia
4 Multilateral Policies
5 The EU and Central Asia
6 Conclusio

6ChinaEU-China relations have broadened & deepened since late 1990s: EU is China‘s majortrade partner
EU-China relations remain a „secondary relationship“

India
EU is India‘s major trade partner
Both actors regard each other as „natural partners“ as they share a commitment todemocracy, the rule of law, human rights and pluralism

Japan
Japan criticised EU for lack of strategic understanding of East Asian region
EU regards Japan as „closest partner“ in East Asia

Qualities of the strategic partnerships in Asia differ significantly
because of normative differential.
7Contents
1 Introduction
2 The EU as a Global Actor in Asia
3 The EU‘s Strategic Partnerships in Asia
4 Multilateral Policies
5 The EU in Central Asia
6 Conclusion

8EU multilateralises its relations with Asia
Europeans support ASEAN intraregional cooperation since 3 decades
In mid 1990s Europeans responded positively to ASEAN‘s interest ofengaging China regionally
EU facilitated the cooperation between Northeast- and Southeast Asia
EU also tries to interregionalise its relations with Central Asia

The interregional level forms an important dimension of the EU‘smultilateral interaction with Asia.
9The ASEAN-EU-Dialogue
EU is increasing its activities in Southeast Asian affairs
New common agenda intensifies political and security cooperation
Quality of EU-ASEAN relations will ultimately depend on integration of ASEAN

The Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM)-Process
ASEM has evolved into central platform for Asia-Europe cooperation
ASEM generates and manages interdependency
In October 2010 Australia, New Zealand and Russia will become ASEM
members

10Members of ASEM

2004

1996

2008

26 members

39 members

45 members

Asia:

Asia:

Asia:

Brunei, China, Indonesia

Cambodia, Lao,

ASEAN Secretariat,Japan, Malaysia, Philippines,Myanmar

India, Mongolia, Pakistan

Europe:Europe:Europe:Austria, Belgium,

Czech Republic,

Bulgaria, Romania

Denmark, Finland, France,Cyprus, Estonia,

Germany, Greece, Ireland,

Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania,Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands

Malta, Poland, Slovenia,

Portugal, Spain, Sweden, UK,

Slovakia

South Korea, Singapore,
Thailand, Vietnam

European Commission

11Contents
1 Introduction
2 The EU as a Global Actor in Asia
3 The EU‘s Strategic Partnerships in Asia
4 Multilateral Policies
5 The EU in Central Asia
6 Conclusion

12

The EU‘s first Central Asia Strategy (2007) names promotion of security &stability as strategic interests because:
1.Strategic, economic and political developments in the region impact on EU‘s interests
2.EU and Central Asia are moving closer because of EU enlargement
3.The energy supplies in the region can help to meet EU‘s security and supply needs

EU aims at promoting the political & economic transformation and modernisationof Central Asia
Russia and China have strategic advantages in the region
EU has structural power deficit because of differing political systems
EU supports regional cooperation in order to overcome the political and institutional
differences between Europe and Central AsiaEU approach to support regional cooperation is based on belief in thesocializing power of cooperative diplomacy and institutions.
13

Contents
1 Introduction
2 The EU as a Global Actor in Asia
3 The EU‘s Strategic Partnerships in Asia
4 Multilateral Policies
5 The EU in Central Asia
6 Conclusion

14

Europeans have no direct influence on security hot spots in Asia
With regard to Asia‘s hard security Europe is a free-rider that depends on thepower projection capabilities of the USA
The Europeans support an incremental approach to confidence-building whichis also promoted by ASEANEU approach has strong normative underpinnig: Europeans aim to transform
political systems through the support of regional and interregional policies

The EU‘s approach to the challenges for security and confidence building inCentral and East Asia constitutes a comprehensive engagement policy,
based on the socializing power of bilateral cooperation and multilateralregional integration.
15

Thank you
for your attention.
The EU’s External Relations with Asia