COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL AND THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT - regarding the asia europe Meeting (ASEM) to be held in bangkok on 1 - 2 march 1996
Date: 1996-01-16
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Asia, World Trade Organisation, cooperation policy, economic relations, international meeting

COMMISSION  OF THE EUROPEAN  COMMUNITIES 

Brussels,  16.01.1996 
COM(96) 4  final 

COMMUNICATION  FROM  THE  COMMISSION 
TO THE COUNCIL  AND THE  EUROPEAN  PARLIAMENT 

Regarding the Asia Europe  Meeting  (ASEM) 
to be held in Bangkok on 12  March  1996 

Communication of the Commission to Council and Parliament 

Regarding the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM)1 

to be held in Bangkok on 1-2 March 1996 

1) 

Introduction 

The  broad  political  guidelines  for  the  Union's  participation  in  the  forthcoming  Asia-
Europe  Meeting  (ASEM)  have  already  been  established  by the  European  Council. 
Detailed  discussions  at  Senior  Official  level  have  likewise  outlined  the  practical 
content  of  the  topics  to  be  considered.  Building  on  this  context,  the  present 
Communication  is intended  to outline  some  of  the  practical  measures  and  follow-up 
actions  which  should  be  considered  in  Bangkok,  in  order  to  help  ensure  that  this 
historic  step  towards  a  strengthening  of  the  Europe-Asia  partnership  can  be 
effectively  and speedily translated into concrete and mutually-beneficial  progress. 

2) 

Background 

This  first Asia-Europe  Meeting  (ASEM)  is a historic  initiative, aimed  at establishing  a 
new  partnership  between  Europe  and  Asia.  It  is  foreseen  that  this  new  partnership 
should  be  based  on the  promotion  of  political  dialogue, the  deepening  of  economic 
relations  and  the  reinforcement  of  cooperation,  and  should  contribute  to  the  global 
development of societies  in both Asia and Europe. 

This  initiative  is  a  recent  one.  It  builds  on the  call within  Europe  for  a new  strategic 
approach  towards  Asia,  reflecting  the  increased  economic  and  political  significance 
of the rapidly-growing Asian economies  in a changing world. This was outlined by the 
European  Commission  in  its  Communication  of  July  1994  "Towards  a  New  Asian 
Strategy",  and  endorsed  in subsequent  months  by  the  European  Council  and  the 
European  Parliament.  It became  concrete  with the  initiative  of  Singapore,  in  autumn 
1994,  to  propose  a  summit  meeting  of  Asian  and  European  leaders.  This  was 
endorsed  subsequently  by  ASEAN,  and  in  June  1995  by  the  European  Council 
meeting at Cannes. 

The  first  ASEM  meeting  will  however  build  on  a  long-standing  dialogue  between 
Europe  and  Asia,  which  over  the  years  has  already  matured  into  a  substantive 
process  of  individual  dialogues  linking the  European  Union with ASEAN, with China, 
Japan  and  Korea,  and  with  the  major  countries  of  South  Asia.  Our  dialogue  with 
ASEAN  dates  back  to  the  late  1970s,  with  a  first  Ministerial  Meeting  in  1978  (plus 
contacts  between  the European  Parliament  and AIPO), and with the signature  of the 

Participants: EU Member States, (+ Commission), Japan, Korea, China, Asean countries 
(Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand,  Vietnam) 
Council  Report  to the European Council  in Madrid concerning the Europe-Asia Meeting 
(12402/95, 5 December  1995) 
Towards  a New Asia Strategy, COM (94) 314,  13 July  1994 

P-  !flL 

EC-ASEAN  Framework  Cooperation  Agreement 
in  1980,  foreseeing  regular 
meetings  at  various  levels.  The  Community  and  its  Member  States  have  likewise 
taken  part  in the ASEAN  PMC meetings  since their inception, and since  1994  in the 
newly-established  ASEAN Regional  Forum. The dialogue with the countries  of South 
Asia  likewise  dales  back  to  the  early  1980s,  and  has  also  been  strengthened  in 
recent  years  with  the  inclusion  of  a  political  element  in  the  dialogue  process,  for 
example  with  India  and  Sri  Lanka.  A high-level  dialogue  process  has  likewise  been 
established  with  Japan  (with  regular  ministerial  meetings  dating  back  to  the  late 
1970s), as we!! as with China and Korea; most recently,  EU relations with Japan and 
China were the subject  of Commission Communications  in May  1995 and  December 
1995  respectively,  while  a  Framework  Agreement  with  Korea  will  be  initialed  by the 
two sides in the coming weeks. 

These  various  dialogues  have tended to  be dominated  by economic  concerns. Asia 
as a whole is after all the largest trading partner of the Union, accounting  in 1994 for 
23.2%  of  the  Union's  total  external  trade.  The  rapid  and  sustained  growth  of  the 
Asian  economies,  and their  increasing  weight  in world trade  and  investment flows, 
made  it  essentia!  however  to  reflect  this  economic  relationship  in  our  political 
dialogue  also.  This  process  is  already  underway  in  our  dialogue  with  individual 
countries and regional groups in Asia, but must be further strengthened, and given a 
full impetus towards an effective partnership, through the opportunities offered by the 
first ASEM meeting. 

The  ASEM meeting should also be seen in its broader geographical  context.  At the 
global  level,  it  provides  both  European  and  Asian  partners  with  an  opportunity  to 
build furthcer  on  ongoing  global  dialogues  (in  the  context  both  of  the  UN  and of 
WTO) within a specific inter-regional context. For the European side, our intensifying 
relationship with Asia will provide an important and timely complement to our existing 
inter-regional  relations  with  other  important  partners.  For  Asia  likewise,  a  stronger 
European  partnership  will  provide  a  welcome  complement  to  the  Asia-Pacific 
partnership strengthened in particular with the establishment of APEC in 1993. 

This  first  ASEM  meeting  will have  a  limited participation,  though  both sides  have 
agreed that it should be evolutionary in character, and it is hoped that this meeting 
will be the first in a series. 

To ensure the success of this first meeting, however, it is necessary to consider what 
might be  the  detailed follow-up which can  be  given  in  each  of  the  main  fields of 
political  dialogue,  economic  and  commercial  relations,  and  cooperation.  These 
elements are discussed below. 

p.2 

3) 

Preliminary  Position of the Asian  Participants 

Despite  the  differences  in  their  political/social  systems  and  structures  and  in  their 
level of economic development, the ten Asian countries participating in ASEM have a 
common  position  as  regards  the  goal  and approach  to  be taken  in the  Europe-Asia 
meeting.  In  the  eyes  of  the  Asian  participants,  the  declared  aim  of  ASEM  is  to 
reinforce  the  weak  link  in the triangle  of  relations  between  Asia,  North America  and 
Europe.  The  Asian  participants  thereby  hope  that  Europe  will  pay  much  greater 
attention to, and have a greater  presence in Asia so as to balance their  relations with 
other  partners.  The  reinforcement  of  the  Europe-Asia  link  also  corresponds  to  the 
wish  of  the  Asian  countries  henceforth to  play a  more  active  role  in world  affairs,  in 
line with their growing economic weight. 

The  ten  Asian  countries  also  easily  adopted  a  common  position  concerning  the 
approach to the  preparation  and conduct  of  the  meeting. Leaving  aside the  informal 
character  of  the  meeting, to  which the  European  Union  has  agreed  in  principle,  the 
common Asian position  in the  run-up to the meeting stresses  points  of  agreement  or 
convergence  of  opinion,  rather  than  points  of  divergence  or  friction.  This  said,  the 
Asian  countries  nevertheless  tackle  some  sensitive  points  such  as  human  rights, 
while  hoping  that  the  discussion  of  these  sensitive  issues  does  not  overshadow  the 
other issues, thereby compromising the atmosphere of the meeting. 

Beyond  their  common  position  on  the  goal  and  approach  of  the  meeting,  the  ten 
countries  do  not  all  attach  the  same  importance  to  the  political  themes  that  were 
included on the agenda on the request of the European  Union. It seems that they are 
all  favorable  to  a  reinforcement  of  the  political  dialogue  between  Europe  and Asia, 
and wish for  cooperation  and a search for  a concordance  of  views  between  the two 
continents  in  international  fora  and  for  the  establishment  of  confidence-building 
measures so as to contribute to the stability of Asia and Europe. 

Concerning  trade  and  economic  issues,  the  Asian  countries  pursue  very  similar 
objectives  to  those  of  the  European  Union,  as  they  wish  to  promote  an  open 
multilateral  trading system, to facilitate  commercial  exchanges  and the  conditions of 
investment,  as  well  as  to  cooperate  on  infrastructure,  science  and  technology,  the 
protection of the environment, and human resources. 

There  is  already  a  consensus  among  the  Asian  countries  to  foresee  a  second 
meeting  at the  level of  Heads  of  State  and of  Government  in two  or three  years.  In 
the  meantime, the  Asian  countries  will  probably  give their  agreement  that- high-level 
officials  be given  the task  of  exploring  appropriate  means  of  following-up  on  certain 
themes  of  the  meeting, such  as  facilitating  the  conditions  of  trade  and  investment. 
The  Asian  countries  will  probably  also  confirm  their  agreement  to the  establishment 
of closer contacts  between businessmen. 

p.3 

4) 

Preliminary  position  of the European  Union 

Following the advice of the Council of Ministers, the European Council  has  accepted 
both the principle and the meeting format suggested by ASEAN (an informal meeting 
at  head  of  state  or government  level, with  a very general  agenda),  and  has  left  the 
choice  of the Asian participants  to the ASEAN side.  From the  beginning, however, it 
has  been  clear  that  on  the  European  side  our  participation  would  be  as  the 
Community and its Member States. 

One key starting-point for the discussions is the New Asian Strategy proposed by the 
Commission  in  July  1994  and  endorsed  by  the  European  Council  in  Essen  in 
December  1994. This  has  also  served  as  a  major  input  for  the  Asian  participants, 
taking  account  also  of  elements  proposed  by  the  business  sector,  notably  through 
the World Economic  Forum meetings organised in Singapore. 

Reflecting  the  novelty  of  this  dialogue  between  the  Union  and  a  very  large  and 
diversified  region, as well  as the  level of  participation  at the  meeting,  it  is  clear  that 
the  meeting  will  be  both  informal  in  character  and  comprehensive  in  scope.  The 
agenda will necessarily include all aspects of relations between the two regions, both 
multilateral  and  bilateral,  ranging  from  economic  and  trade  elements  through  to 
political aspects including security, and including also culture and cooperation. 

The first ASEM should constitute a new milestone by allowing the participants to give 
impetus  to  the  political  will  to  intensify  political  dialogue,  strengthen  trade  and 
economic  relations  and  reinforce  co-operation  in  various  fields  between  the  two 
regions, and lay a firm foundation for a new partnership on equal footing. 

In the  position  paper  endorsed  by the  Madrid  European Council in  mid  December 
1995, the  Union has  listed a range of specific  issues for  discussion, and has  made 
certain proposals for possible follow-up actions after the ASEM. 

In the political field, the Union is  ready to promote pofitical dialogue, dialogue on the 
values  and codes that govern societies on both continents  and co-operation  aiming 
at the  consolidation of  political stabifity and international security  in  a  broad sense, 
and at the improvement of mutual understanding in all areas. It stresses that  human 
rights, the  rule of law and good governance  play a key role in furthering  harmonious 
social development. Concretely, the Union foresees that Senior Officials may explore 
the  possibilities  for  co-operation  by  identifying  common  ground  on  the  different 
discussed political issues. 

In  the  field  of  economic  and trade  relations,  the  Union  is  willing  to  strengthen  the 
links between Europe and Asia in order to develop its economic  presence in Asia as 
weft as to encourage Asia's interest in Europe. 

At  a  moment  when  both  Europe  and Asia  partners  are  involved in  their  respective 
regional  links, the  Union  expects  that  ASEM shall  reaffirm  the  curnmitment  of  al!  to 
the principles of the WTO on multilateralism. For the European  Union, ASEM should 

M 

stress  the  need  for  a  successful  conclusion  of  unfinished  negotiations  in  the 
the 
framework  of 
liberalisation of international trade. 

the  Uruguay  Round,  and  support 

further  moves  towards 

The  Union  envisages  the  possibility  for  participants  of  ASEM to  instruct  their  senior 
officials  to  identify  measures  that  could  facilitate  trade  and  investment  conditions 
between  both  regions. The  Union  considers  that  ASEM  should  also  encourage  the 
intensification of business contacts and technology cross flows. 

Finally,  the  Union  is  of  the  opinion  that  the  ASEM  should  promote  co-operation  in 
various  fields,  especially  in  human  resource  development,  in  environment  and 
biodiversity,  in  industrial  cooperation,  in  development  cooperation  and  poverty 
alleviation  in  the  poorest  countries,  and  in  cultural  exchange  facilitating  mutual 
understanding. 

For  all  the  above  fields,  it  will  be  important  that  appropriate  informal  arrangements 
are  put  in  place  for  reviewing  and  following-up  on  progress  achieved,  so  that  the 
impetus given by this first ASEM meeting is drawn upon to the full. 

5) 

Content of the dialogue and possible areas of  convergence 

This  first  ASEM  carries  much expectation.  Both sides  hope  it can  expand the  Euro-
Asian dialogue,  reinforcing  co-operation  on many fronts,  acting  as  a catalyst  for  the 
strengthening  of  bilateral  and  multilateral  instruments.  A  broad  range  of  issues  for 
the Meeting have been identified. 

5a) 

Promotion of political dialogue 

The  increasing  weight  of  Asia  in  the  world  economy  should  reinforce  the  political 
weight  of  this  region  on  the  international  political  scene.  This  will  contribute  to  a 
world  of  multipolarity,  in  which  one  should  not  forget  South  Asia.  ASEM  should 
welcome  and  encourage  efforts  by  Asian  countries  to  engage  themselves  more  in 
the  management  of  international  affairs  by  enhancing  a  broader  Euro-Asia  political 
dialogue, exploring areas and possible issues of cooperation in international fora and 
by promoting peace and stability in both regions and globally. 

'Reinforcement of political dialogue: 

ASEM should provide a stimulus to the existing process of  political dialogue  between 
the EU and its regional or country  partners.  In principle, the EU should maintain and 
intensify the present  political dialogue with its different  Asian dialogue partners.  But 
this approach can be combined with the possibility of holding political dialogue on the 
regional  level on specific  issues of interest to both regions.  In the future, more  effort 
should  be  given  to  developing  the  political  dialogue  at  expert  level  with  a  view  to 

p.5 

deepening  the  dialogue  and  making  it  more  operational  in  dealing  with  concrete 
issues  such  as  reform  of  the  United  Nations,  prevention  and  management  of  local 
conflicts,  non-proliferation  of  weapons  of  mass  destruction,  arms  and  sensitive 
technologies controls and nuclear security. 

Consultation and cooperation in institutional fora 

ASEM  participants  could  instruct  senior  officials  to  explore  the  possibilities  of 
concertation  and  cooperation  by  identifying  common  interests  on  various  issues  in 
international  organisations  and fora.  Such concertation  or cooperation  could include 
a  series  of  issues  ranging  from  peacekeeping  and  peacemaking  to  negotiation  of 
international  conventions  on  arms  control,  implementation  of  the  existing  ones, 
promotion  of  non-proliferation  regimes and the  problem  of  antipersonnel  mines.  On 
this  last  point,  ASEM  could  for  example  envisage  action  in  the  field  of  mine-
clearance in Cambodia. 

ASEM could likewise encourage, wherever  possible, joint initiatives  between EU and 
Asian  countries.  Through  such  joint  initiatives,  Europe  and  Asia  will  better 
understand each other's positions and ways of thinking. 

Dialogue on values and codes 

The  ASEM should  encourage  an open and frank  dialogue  on the  values  and  codes 
that  govern  societies  on  both  continents,  bearing  in  mind  the  different  cultural  and 
social  backgrounds.  The  two  sides  should  likewise  be  attentive  to  possibilities  of 
enhancing  positive  cooperation  in favor  of  respect  of  democracy,  human  rights  and 
the rule of law as requested by the Council in the Union position paper. 

ARF process 

ASEM should  encourage  the  development  of  the  ARF  process, thus  contributing  to 
stability  and security  in the Asian  region and helping guarantee  continuing  economic 
growth  and  social  development.  The  EU  should  involve  itself  further  in  the  ARF 
process  through  a  consistent  participation  and  a  more  active  involvement  in  both 
formal and non-governmental activities. 

Within  the  ARF  process,  the  Union  should  encourage  intensified  and  more  regular 
contacts  and exchanges  of views between  Institutes  of international  strategic studies 
of  both  continents.  The  Union  should  also  study  means  of  actively  participating  in 
actions  in the field  of  confidence  building  in the  Asian  region, in  addition  to  sharing 
our respective experiences of CBMs in both regions. 

5b) 

Reinforcement Of Economic  Co-Operation 

There is a very wide range of general economic questions  which could be discussed 
at ASEM. 

On  economic  cooperation,  trade  and  investment  are  important  elements  in  the 
European  Union's  relations  with  all  participating  ASEM  countries.  The  existing 
bilateral channels would be used for the implementation  of the  results of  ASEM, with 
ASEM itself  primarily being seen as a means to politically invigorate economic ties. 

p.6 

ASEM  should  make  a  strong  pledge  for  multilateralism  and  open  regionalism.  An 
informal  Senior  Officials'  Meeting  on Trade  and  Investment  Facilitation  should  meet 
before the summer of  1996 to initiate a dialogue on WTO  issues which would help to 
prepare  the  ground  for  the  discussion  needed  in the  WTO  itself,  in  preparation  for 
the  Singapore  Ministerial  in  December.  This  dialogue  should  aim  to  commit 
participants 
its  expedited 
to  the  completion  of  the  Uruguay  Round  and  to 
implementation. 

Priority areas would include : 

telecommunications  agreement 

a  basic 
the  procurement  of 
telecommunications  equipment,  which  would  secure  market  access  and 
national treatment as well as balanced and effective  regulatory frameworks; 

including 

liberalisation and further integration of the maritime sector; 

reinforcement  of  the  interim  financial  services  agreement,  which should  also 
be made permanent. 

The Senior Officials should also try to reach convergence of views on the future work 
programme of the WTO. In addition to the outstanding business listed above and the 
so-called  "built-in  agenda" to which  all  agreed at  Marrakech, there  are  old  and  new 
issues  which  require fresh  attention. Of the  new issues, the  priorities  for the  EU are 
trade  and  environment  policy,  trade  and  investment  policy,  trade  and  competition 
policy  and labour standards.  For example, the dialogue  on  investment  policy  should 
help lay the foundation for a multilateral investment agreement  in the WTO. 

The  Senior  Officials'  should  also  suggest  additional  measures  that  could  facilitate 
trade  and  investment  among  participants.  Such  measures  could  include  customs 
cooperation  with a view to the  simplification  of  customs  procedures,  cooperation  on 
standards, improved transparency  on trade and investment  rules and in public sector 
tender  notices,  simplification  of  administrative  procedures  relating  to  FDI,  etc. 
Facilitation  could  also  be  promoted 
training  programmes, 
economic  cooperation  projects  and technical assistance. The  EU should  make  clear 
its  readiness  to  compare  notes  on  the  challenges  of  economic  integration, 
deregulation and the creation of open and competitive  market. 

industrial 

through 

The  recommendations  of  the  Senior  Officials  would  be  followed  up  through  the 
normal bilateral channels between the EU and the participating Asian countries. 

It  would  also  be  desirable  if  the  Senior  Officials  could  draw  in  their  work  upon  the 
advice  and  support  of  the  private  sector.  It  would  be  particularly  useful  to  find  out 
more  on  how  small  and  medium-sized  business  could  be  helped.  It  is  however 
difficult  to  create  a  comprehensive  and  representative  forum  of  this  kind  for  this 
heterogeneous  group  of  countries.  ASEM  will  initially  have  to  build  upon  existing 
bilateral  and  national  business  fora, even  if  over  time  an  umbrella  group  should  be 
formed for business dialogue with participating Asian countries. 

The  Commission  will  in  1996  be  organising  a  number  of  important  business-to-
business contacts linking Europe and Asia. 

p.7 

5c) 

Promotion of cooperation in various fields 

Environment 

Common  objectives  and  active  cooperation  are  required  in  the  fight  against 
environmental  degradation.  The  challenge  of  environmentally-sound  development 
includes  the definition  of  policies, approaches  and management  plans to define  and 
achieve  the  optimal  balance  between  development  and  conservation,  economy  and 
ecology, and human and physical environment. 

Rapid growth  in Europe and Asia has given rise to growing environmental  concerns, 
and ASEM  could  help  in the  identification  of  common  objectives  and more  effective 
cooperation  in this  sector.  A considerable  and diverse  experience  has  already  been 
accumulated  in  Europe  and Asia on these  issues,  and taking  advantage  of  ASEM's 
composition,  the  EU,  Japan  and  Korea  could  share  experiences  with  the  other 
participating  countries.  Cooperation  in  specific  projects  could  be  envisaged,  while 
follow-up  could  also  build  upon  the  Commission's  existing  cooperation  network  on 
environment with the ASEM participants  . 

Human resources 

Human  resource  development  pîays a  crucial  role for  sustainable  economic  growth 
and social  development.  Focusing  and strengthening  efforts  already  being  made  in 
the  key  field  of  primary  education  should  be  identified  as  a  priority.  Especially 
important  is  ensuring  equal  access  to  schooling  for  all  levels  of  society.  Joint 
initiatives in order to promote such objectives could be envisaged. 

Cooperation  in  education  and  training  between  Asia  and  Europe  should  also  be 
developed, with  a special  attention  being  given to  actions  such  as  the  exchange  of 
educational  experience  and vocational training. Centers  or  programmes  specialising 
in  European  Studies  (in  Asia)  or  Asian  Studies  (in  Europe)  should  be  promoted. 
ASEM  could  express  support  for  the  two-way  development  of  scholarship  and 
university  exchange  programmes,  taking  into  account  projects  already  established 
under our economic cooperation programme. 

Co-operation  among  private-sector  operators  (for  example  in  the  exchange  of 
executives)  and  research  institutions,  joint  projects  on  research  and  development, 
and  exchanges  of  experience  either  through  exchange  of  researchers  or  at  the 
administrative  level  shall  help  European  companies  enter  the  highly  competitive 
Asian  market  and  review  investment  possibilities  with  a  more  informed  eye. 
Reflections  on  the  best  ways  to  develop  these  programmes  could  usefully  be 
discussed  between the  ASEM  members  in an ad hoc framework  with  private  sector 
participation. 

The Commission  already has a framework  of bilateral environmental  eo-operation  with all 
ASEM  participants, either through  an administrative arrangement  (Japan), or through  the 
Trade and Cooperation  Agreements (ASEAN,  Korea, China) 

p.X 

From the viewpoint of the private sector, the diverse economic situation in Asia would 
suggest  that  a  diversified  approach  could  be  preferable.  It  is  clear  that  European 
private  operators  tend  to  distinguish  three  key  country  groups  in  Asia,  and  to  have 
differentiated  strategies  for  each  group.  These  include  the  industrialised  countries 
and  economies  (such  as  Japan,  Korea  and  Taiwan),  the  advanced  developing 
countries  (such as Thailand,  Malaysia,  Indonesia  and the  Philippines), together  with 
the largest  developing countries  (China and India), and thirdly the  poorer  developing 
countries  such  as  Vietnam  and  Bangladesh. The  Asian  participants  of  ASEM  cross 
the  lines  between  these  three  groups,  particularly  when  one  takes  into  account  the 
future 
recent  enlargement  of  ASEAN  to 
enlargement to other countries in South-East  Asia 

include  Vietnam,  and 

its  possible 

Science and technology cross-flows 

The Meeting should acknowledge the importance of small and medium enterprises  in 
this  sector,  and  recommend  to  participants  the  establishment  of  joint  programmes 
aimed  at  facilitating  investment  and  technology  linkages  among  SME's.  This  point 
has  already  been  clearly  stressed  in  Asian  and  European  preparation  for  the 
Meeting,  and  current  EC  programmes 
linkages  need 
reinforcement  and  a  greater  Asian  involvement  in  order  to  bring  the  expected 
benefits. 

for  support 

to  SME 

Industrial cooperation 

Industrial  cooperation  could  make  an  irnportant  contribution  to  mutual  trust  and 
understanding  on  a  long-term  basis  between  Asian  and  European  economies, 
avoiding trade friction  and obstacles  due to cultural diversity.  ASEM could  therefore 
encourage  the  development  of  a  number  of  bilateral  industrial  cooperation  activities 
adapted  to  each  sector  and  to  each  country  (e.g.  business  meetings,  set-up  of 
training  programmes  for  students  and  engineers  in  industrial  companies  in  Asia  for 
Europeans  and  vice  versa  ...). 
In  particular,  the  meeting  could  acknowledge  the 
importance  of  cooperation  in  current  efforts  to  achieve  the  Global  Information 
Society.  The  meeting  could  give  input  to  the  G7  'Information  Society  Conference' 
with Developing Countries  in May 96 in South-Africa. 

Special  attention  should  also  be  given  to  transport.  Efficient  transport  links  play  a 
major  role in the development  of trade.  ASEM should promote cooperation  aimed at 
improving  transport  links  both  between  Europe  and  Asia  and  within  the  region. 
Particular  attention  should  be given, in this  context,  to  transfer  of  technology  to  the 
poorer  countries  in  the  region,  so  as  to  promote  more  energy-efficient  and 
environmentally  sustainable  transport.  Cooperation  in  ASEM  could  encourage 
cooperation on maritime safety and environmental issues, traffic  management  based 
on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), air transport and the development of 
new transport links between Europe and Asia. 

Cultural contacts 

Both sides agree on the need to build bridges between their civil societies, especially 
as  regards  the  importance  of  the  establishment  of  a  parliamentary  dialogue  at  the 
Asia-Europe  level  and  the  participation  of  the  private  sector.  This  is  a  major 
challenge  in  our  drive  to  overcome  existing  gaps  in  communication,  understanding 
and  cultural  dialogue.  A  strengthened  mutual  awareness  of  European  and  Asian 
cultural  perspectives  will be a  key  supporting  element  in strengthening  our  two-way 
political and economic linkages. 

p.9 

The  Europe-Asia  Forum 
in  Venice  on  January  18-19  focusing  on  a  better 
understanding  of  Asian culture will provide a valuable  precedent  in this  respect,  and 
initiatives from the Asian side would be welcome. 

Cooperation in development 

Many  participants,  including  the  Community  and  its  Member  States,  already  have 
substantial  and  long-standing  programmes  in  this  area,  the  value  of  which  the 
Summit  may  wish to  recognise,  while  confirming  also  the  continuing  importance  of 
working  together  to  assist  in  a smooth  integration  of  the  poorest  countries  of  Asia, 
and  the  poorest  regions  of  the  richer  countries,  within  the  economic  and  social 
progress  of  the  region  as  a  whole.  Special  emphasis  could  be  given  to  continued 
efforts  to support  the  transition  to  market  economy  already started  in several  Asian 
countries with strong support from the Union. 

Among  the  key  objectives  of  development  co-operation  which  the  Meeting  could 
endorse would be : 

a  focus  on  the  poorest  countries  of  the  region  and  on  the  least  favored 
groups in society; 

to 

improve 

helping 
the  most 
disadvantaged  groups,  in  a  sustainable  and  replicable  manner  paying  due 
attention to environmental and resource-management  considerations; 

living  conditions  of 

incomes  and 

the 

helping  these  disadvantaged  groups  to  play  a  more  active  role  in  the 
planning, implementation  and evaluation of their own development strategies, 
through strengthened participation and empowerment; 

helping ensure that women are permitted and enabled to play their full  role in 
the  development  process,  and  that  major  social  issues  such  as  population, 
health and education are given adequate policy and resource support; 

ASEM  could  in  this  context  provide  a  useful  forum  to  support  joint  initiatives  in 
development  projects  in  the  less  advanced  participating  countries  through  common 
reflection,  coordinated  actions  and/or  burden  sharing.  It  is  clear,  however,  that  the 
launching of projects should be left at the discretion of each participant. 

6) 

Future perspectives 

It  is  evident  that  this  first  ASEM  meeting  should  not  be  a  unique  event,  nor  one 
without  practical  and  concrete  follow-up.  With  regard  to  the  next  steps  which  will 
require  to  be  taken  on  both  sides,  certain  key  points  already  seem  clear.  In 
particular, one can note : 

the  need to  maintain  and  strengthen  a framework  of  political  dialogue,  over 
and  above the  urgent  and  important  themes  which  can  be treated  within  an 
economic dialogue; 

p. 10 

the  need to  reinforce  the  multilateral  context  of  these  twin  dialogues,  and to 
strengthen the role of the relevant international institutions; 

the parallel  need to ensure that the  intensified dialogue  between  Europe  and 
Asia  will  strengthen,  rather  than  displace,  the  existing  dialogues  at  both 
bilateral and sub-regional level. 

In general, it is evident  that the follow-up to ASEM should be pragmatic  and flexible. 
Due  account  should  be  taken  of  existing  institutional  frameworks  as  well  as 
multilateral  fora.  In this  context, however,  there  are clearly  various  options  available 
as  regards  the  way  ahead  which  will  need  to  be  addressed  in  the  light  of  the 
outcome  of  the  Bangkok  ASEM. There  seems  to  be consensus  that  the first  ASEM 
should not be a one-off  event. One Member-State  has offered to host the next ASEM 
during its Presidency in the first half of 1998. 

Further  thought  should  be  given  to  how  the  next  ASEM  should  be  prepared  and 
organised,  as  well  as  to  how the  participants  should  be selected. The  most  difficult 
issue  will  be  how  to  ensure  continuity  and  effectiveness  without  ASEM  becoming 
bureaucratic  or  rigid. The  Commission  will  revert to  the  Council  on these  matters  in 
due course. 

p.n 

7) 

Contusions 

Asia and Europe have shared interests  in terms of politics and security, both globally 
and regionally; an intensified cooperation and sharing of experience between the two 
regions  will  serve  the  common  interests  of  both.  Asia  and  Europe  likewise  have 
shared  interests  in the  effective  functioning  of  the  global  economy,  and  of  the  new 
multilateral trade order established  in Marrakech; the support of like-minded  regional 
groups  as well as of  individual countries  is essential for the full potential of the WTO 
to  be  realised.  ASEM  will  thus  provide  an  ideal  forum  for  Asia  and  Europe  to 
exchange  views  at  the  highest  level, to  assess  the  status  of  our  general  dialogue, 
and to  provide further  guidance  and impetus  to the  development  of  this  dialogue  at 
different levels. 

At  the  same  time,  the  diversity  of  Asia  will  certainly  call  for  a  deeper  dialogue 
between  the  European  Union  and the  different  parts  of  the  larger  Asian  area,  both 
with its  regional  and sub-regional  groupings  (which we should support), and with the 
individual  countries.  The  characteristics  of  each  of  these  dialogues  will  necessarily 
be based on the particularities  of each country  and regional group, as well as on the 
evolving  interest  of  our  partners  in  strengthening  their  relations  with  the  Union. 
These dialogues already exist with practically all the countries of Asia, each with their 
particular  framework,  and  often  institutionalised  in  the  form  of  a  more  or  less 
advanced  cooperation  agreement.  They  need  further  strengthening,  and  the 
Commission  is willing to make detailed proposals  in this sense, within the context of 
the general guidelines and impetus which will be given by the ASEM meeting. 

Looking  to the future, it would wrong to foresee  any  premature  institutionalisation  of 
the  dialogue  framework  being  established  through  this  first  ASEM  meeting. 
Nevertheless,  one  should  consider  how  this  initial  historic  impetus  may  best  be 
maintained.  In  this  regard,  it  is  possible  that  participants  at  the  first  ASEM  should 
consider calling for a second meeting at the level of heads of state or government to 
be  held  in  two  or  three  years'  time  (preceded  perhaps  by  a  meeting  at  ministerial 
level to report on progress), and in the meantime calling for the early  convening  of a 
Senior  Officials'  Meeting  to  assist  both sides  in  preparing  for  the  forthcoming  WTO 
Ministerial and its follow-up. 

To  ensure  that  the  Asia-Europe  dialogue  thus  established  can  achieve  its  full 
potential,  it  will  also  be  essential  to  broaden  the  dialogue  beyond  the  government 
level.  On the  one  hand, it  is  important  that  civil  society  can  play  its  part,  and  in this 
regard the establishment  of a parliamentary  dialogue at the Asia-Europe  level will be 
essential  (building  on  the  existing  parliamentary  dialogues  at  sub-regional  levels). 
The private sector also should be encouraged to play its full part in the dialogue, and 
an Asia-Europe meeting of business leaders could also be envisaged. 

In  conclusion,  the  Commission  is  convinced  of  the  historical  importance  of  the 
forthcoming  ASEM  meeting, and  is  convinced  likewise  that  this  meeting  should  not 
be seen  in isolation, but as the formal  and mutual  recognition  by all participants  that 
Europe  and  Asia  must  meet  on  an  equal  footing  of  partnership  and  of  genuine 
dialogue. 

p. 12 

ISSN 0254-1475 

COM(96) 4  final 

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