Connectivity and EU-Asia relations (debate)
Speaker: Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2021-01-19

  Reinhard Bütikofer,  rapporteur. – Mr President, connectivity has not been a highly popular, well—communicated or widely used policy instrument since the strategy was adopted two and a half years ago – not even in Brussels. But it is a strategy that will only grow in relevancy, an unavoidable policy framework if the EU really wants to be a valid global actor and the attention on the connectivity strategy is indeed increasing. 
If we look back, we can clearly see how much internal connectivity has been at the centre of integration policy success within our EU. Now, in a fast and fundamentally changing world in which we are trying to define the EU’s space, we need to streamline our external relations also along the fundamental ideas of connectivity thinking. Simply said, we will be more successful internationally if we remain open to the world and cooperate wherever we can to promote our values, our interests and global goods, common global goods. Not those who insist on the highest emphasis on autonomy will reach their goals best, but those who are best and most effectively connected. 
My report’s aim is to help give a second breath to the EU’s connectivity strategy by expanding it to a global scale, by following a team Europe approach, by tying it strongly to the headline goals of our Union, like the European Green Deal and digital innovation, by having clear and strong priorities and good connectivity governance and by cooperating with willing partners and contributing to connecting the connectivities.
It is important to take note of how much others are interested to cooperate with the EU on connectivity, in particular Japan, which has already struck a connectivity deal with the EU, India, that is negotiating on an accord and will put the item on the summit agenda, South Korea or the ASEAN Community, with which we have agreed in a ministerial meeting a common statement on connectivity. The EU connectivity strategy is an offer that will find many takers. Let’s not waste these opportunities. It will also be very important to actively pursue connectivity collaboration with the African Union and its members. 
I happily see intensified interest in connectivity on the part of Member States including, for instance, France, Poland and Germany, and in the business community as reflected in Business Europe’s China strategy, published one year ago. So colleagues, let us move forward together to put wheels under this car and use this great tool for implementing our shared promise to live up to our international responsibilities by attaining Weltpolitikfähigkeit as Jean Claude Juncker used to say – the ability to help shape international developments and international progress. 
In conclusion, I want to thank all the experts and interlocutors involved, including those from EU partner countries. I want to thank the Members of the Commission that have actively supported connectivity, even though it didn’t make it into the 2021 work programme, the many DGs of the Commission that have supported connectivity as well and also the External Action Service, in particular Ambassador Vlahutin. I want to thank last year’s German Presidency and this year’s Portuguese Presidency for putting emphasis behind connectivity. And I want to thank the six groups of this Parliament that have supported the connectivity report, in particular my shadow rapporteurs. It’s been fun working with you all.