General documents - Meeting of 25 November 2020 Brussels - Delegation for relations with the countries of Southeast Asia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

The DASE Delegation meeting, held remotely via WebEx, was dedicated to an exchange of views with the Embassies of the ASEAN countries, the EEAS and the European Commission, DG TRADE on EU-ASEAN relations. In this context, the AFET Rapporteur R. Bütikofer presented his draft report on EU-Asia connectivity. Emphasis was given to the political momentum to strengthen regional cooperation between the EU and ASEAN and to upgrade the Strategic Partnership underlining the mutual opportunities in the areas of transport, energy, digital and people to people contacts. Accordingly, two main objectives should be pursued: a Comprehensive Air Transport Agreement (CATA) and a region to region FTA. The pandemic illustrates even more the need to strengthen our links. The ASEAN Embassies welcomed the EU's and its Member States support to the ASEAN region providing the amount of over Euro 800 Mio through the TEAM EUROPA package.