Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The European Commission (EC) officially launched a 7.2 million euro (approximately US$9.7 million) program to support the integration process of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in a ceremony at the grouping's secretariat in Jakarta on Tuesday.
The EC is the executive arm of the 27-member European Union (EU).
Charge d'Affaires of the European Commission Delegation Office in Jakarta Rosamaria Gili said that aside from furthering ASEAN's integration process, the program also aims at strengthening bilateral relations between the world's two most dynamic groupings.
""The EC is in a key position to effectively contribute to ASEAN's move towards integration on the basis of its own successful experience of integration, particularly in the creation of the EU single market,"" she told a press conference after the ceremony.
The program, which is called ""ASEAN Program for Regional Integration Support"", or APRIS, will focus on achieving common ASEAN standards in four priority sectors, which include products such as agri-food, electronic goods, cosmetics and wood products.
It will also focus on improving customs clearances and the establishment of a regional transit program as well as developing an action plan for investment to promote free and open investment in the region.
The program also aims at enhancing the capacity of the ASEAN Secretariat in the settlement of disputes among members by providing training to its staff.
The program, which will span three years, follows APRIS, which ended in September last year and made a significant contribution to the implementation of the initial phase of the Vientiane Action Program.
ASEAN Secretary General Ong Keng Yong welcomed the launching of the program, saying that ASEAN needed the EU's support to be able to achieve its integration goals.
""This facility provides technical assistance to ASEAN and further enriches ASEAN-EU relations. It is in a unique position to help ASEAN member countries address concerns and issues during the negotiation process of the EU-ASEAN free trade agreement (FTA),"" he said.
In a meeting in Brunei in May, both groupings agreed to begin negotiations on the FTA.
Ong said several obstacles are still faced in the negotiation process, including the EU's concerns on problems in Myanmar and allegations that several ASEAN countries deliberately forced low wages and product prices to be able to compete in international markets.
""We hope that we can convince Myanmar to move quicker to democratization. On low wages and prices, we are trying to show the EU that this situation is caused by our early stage of development. As we become more advanced, wages and prices will be driven higher,"" he said.
