ASEAN delegates demand transparency from EU

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) delegates demanded transparency from the European Union with regard to the economic agreement being discussed between the two regions.

Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu said after the first EU – ASEAN Business Summit at the Jakarta Convention Center that the delegations from ASEAN countries, mostly business people, had asked for transparency, particularly regarding EU’s standards and EU's roles, which needs to be completed for the economic cooperation to proceed.

“Not only that, but also how Europe can give them a program to build their capacity. They also suggested that the cooperation concentrate on economic agreements that focus on capacity-building issues so that they can fulfill EU standards,” she said.

Around 300 European delegates and 200 ASEAN delegates from five different sectors that would be the focus of an EU - ASEAN economic partnership gathered at the business summit in Jakarta.

Earlier, the minister mentioned five sectors that would also be the main focus of business cooperation between the EU and ASEAN: infrastructure, agrifood, healthcare, automotive and services. The five sectors were considered the most promising sectors in both Europe and ASEAN.

Delegations from the EU and ASEAN also encouraged governments to enhance cooperation between ASEAN and the EU as well as among ASEAN member countries themselves.

“They also specifically said that it was important to push either free trade agreements or comprehensive economic partnership agreements with the EU and bilateral agreements among ASEAN countries that will eventually build a partnership between the EU and ASEAN.”

Problems like the development gap between certain countries and European countries also came up during the summit.

“Regarding the development gap between some ASEAN countries and the EU, there should be flexibility in the process, for example we will be given more time in the liberalization as well as special protection. And the most important is cooperation in building ASEAN’s capacity that most ASEAN countries need to catch up with the EU,” she said, adding that other ministers also recommended education and environment improvements in the region. (swd)