Political and Security Cooperation

3.        Over the years, EU has been actively involved in the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), which is the only inter-governmental forum aimed at promoting peace and security through dialogue and cooperation in Asia Pacific. EU has co-chaired a number of Inter-Sessional Groups (ISGs) on Confidence Building Measures (CBMs), and participated in the Inter-Sessional Meetings (ISMs) on Preventive Diplomacy. The regular ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meetings (AEMM) and EU’s participation at the annual ASEAN Post Ministerial Conferences (PMCs) contribute significantly to greater dialogue and exchange of views on key regional and international issues of mutual interest and concern.

5.        The ASEAN-EU dialogue relations reached a significant milestone with the adoption of the Nuremberg Declaration on an EU-ASEAN Enhanced Partnership in 2007. The Declaration sets out the long-term vision and commitment of both sides to work together for common goals and objectives for the years to come. ASEAN and EU marked the 30th anniversary of dialogue relations with the convening of the ASEAN-EU Commemorative Summit in November 2007 in Singapore. At the Summit, the Leaders adopted the Joint Declaration which obliges both sides to work together to address inter-related challenges of climate change, energy security, environmental issues and other matters. The ASEAN-EU Plan of Action to Implement the Nuremberg Declaration on an EU-ASEAN Enhanced Partnership, together with the Indicative List of Activities to implement the Plan of Action, was also adopted to initiate concrete steps and activities to move forward the ASEAN-EU dialogue relations.

6.        Following the entry into force of the ASEAN Charter and based on the strong foundation of the ASEAN-EU Partnership, there are currently 14 accredited Ambassadors to ASEAN from the EU Member States and the European Commission [1].  Other Member States of the EU will accredit their ambassadors to ASEAN according to their respective national laws and regulations. A special advisor has also been appointed as part of the  EC Delegation in Jakarta to strengthen the working relationship with ASEAN.

7.        The 17^th ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting (AEMM) was held on 27-28 May 2009 in Phnom Penh. The Meeting endorsed the Phnom Penh Agenda for the Implementation of the ASEAN-EU Plan of Action, which serves as an action programme to deepen and intensify cooperation in every field between ASEAN and the EU for the period of 2009-2010. Notably, the 17^th AEMM marks the enhancement of ASEAN-EU dialogue relations with the signing of the Declaration on Accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) by the European Union and European Community, in addition to the ASEAN Declaration of Consent to the Accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia by the European Union and European Community. Through the declarations, both sides commit to the complete accession of the EU/EC to the TAC as soon as possible.