Retrospection of the 12th Asia-Europe Meeting

By Roy Lie Atjam.

The objective of the  12^th Asia-Europe (ASEM) Meeting: to strengthen dialogue and cooperation between  Europe and Asia on a wide range of areas.

After a brief introduction by H.E. Heidemaria Gürer, Austrian Ambassador to the Netherlands, a panel made up of the following persons:

• George Cunningham, Senior Adviser Asia and Pacific Department, European External Action Service
• H.E. Mr. Magzhan Ilyassov, Ambassador of Kazakhstan to The Netherlands
• H.E. Mr. Matthew Neuhaus, Ambassador of Australia to The Netherlands
• Mr. Kazi Russel Pervez, Counsellor, Embassy of Bangladesh in The Netherlands
• H.E. Ms. Eksiri Pintaruchi, Ambassador of Thailand to The Netherlands
• Moderation: Ms. Maaike Okano-Heijmans, Senior Research Fellow at the Clingendael Institute, reviewed the 12^th ASEM summit, organized by the EU and chaired by the President of the European Council, Mr Donald Tusk.

The summit was attended by the Heads of State and Government of 51 Asian and European countries, the President of the European Commission and the Secretary-General of ASEAN. The 12^th ASEM summit was held on 18-19 October 2018 in Brussels.

However, the review panel met at the residence of the Austrian Ambassador Heidemaria Gürer in The Hague on 6th November 2018. The EU, as well as Austria, recently adopted a new Asia-strategy.

The panel focus on the outcome of the summit, as well as on the future relationship between Europe and Asia. The panel came to the conclusion that the added value of  ASEM is connectivity in all its dimension, ASEM works as a catalyst. Members of the panel touched on scores of subjects of which some are listed hereunder.

• Infrastructure is an important item within  ASEM
• ASEM should become a forum for bilateral meetings
• Furthermore,  justice should be done to relatives of the MH 17  victims
• Call for the resumption of the FTA talks
• Sustainable development beneficial to both parties
• There should be collaboration on the phenomenon  of ageing society
• 2019  is an election year
• Brexit and beyond
• Multilateralism policy
• The post Cotonou Agreement

A vivid reception with  Austrian and ASEM  treats concluded the afternoon which also  attracted representatives of none EU-ASEM countries, International institutions and students of various universities.