UPDATE - EU, Southeast Asian group leaders meeting in Brussels for 1st-ever summit

UPDATES WITH OPENING REMARKS OF PRESIDENTS OF EUROPEAN COUNCIL, EUROPEAN COMMISSION

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

ISTANBUL (AA) - Leaders of the European Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Wednesday met in Brussels for their first-ever summit.

In doorstep remarks, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said that today marks a celebration of 45 years of a diplomatic relationship with ASEAN.

"I'm going to sign, on behalf of the European Union, two association and cooperation partnership agreements with Thailand and Malaysia, so (making) important steps on increasing our cooperation with ASEAN countries," Borrell said.

He underlined the importance of the meeting, saying that one-third of the maritime trade in the world goes through the South China Sea and also the security has two sides, including Ukraine and the South China Sea, which means tensions with China.

"So it's going to be an important meeting for the ideas of economic, diplomatic relations, an important future in front of us for our cooperation," he added.

For his part, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said that the EU-ASEAN summit is "important" to strengthen the EU's commercial, economic, and political ties with the entire Pacific region, amid the effects of the Russian war on Ukraine.

"Europe is in need of strengthening its geopolitical and economic relations with other parts of the world," Sanchez said, adding that during the Spanish presidency of the EU in the second half of 2023, Madrid hopes to "transcend and diversify our geopolitical and also economic relations with Latin America, fundamentally with the Ibero-American community."

He also expressed confidence that the EU will still be able to reach an agreement to put a cap on the price of gas, despite the recent failed attempt at a meeting of the energy ministers, as there will be a council meeting tomorrow.

- ‘Greater cooperation with Indo-Pacific region’

Charles Michel, the president of the European Council, said in his opening speech that he "strongly" believes cooperation between the EU and ASEAN can be enhanced in fields of digital transition, infrastructure and connectivity, science, technology and innovation, security and defense.

"And this deeper cooperation goes hand in hand with the EU strategy for greater cooperation with the Indo-Pacific region," Michel said. "We want to contribute to the stability, security, prosperity, and sustainable development."

Today's meeting is also "an opportunity to bind regions closer together" through trade, he said, recalling the two agreements, which have already "boosted our cap and trade and continue to thrive."

In her speech, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that after COVID-19, climate change and Russia's war on Ukraine, “we need a strong EU-ASEAN partnership to navigate the course ahead."

The sides will discuss how to boost energy and trade cooperation with the right infrastructure, von der Leyen said and added that a €10 billion ($10.6 billion) package is being put forward for ASEAN under Global Gateway.

European Council President Charles Michel, and the 2022 ASEAN chair, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, are co-chairing the EU-ASEAN commemorative summit.

After discussing a wide range of areas of strategic partnership, including connectivity, clean and just energy transition, trade, and digital transition, the leaders are expected to issue a joint statement at the end of the summit.