Message from the EU representative in Indonesia<\/p>\n
It is my pleasure to present to you on the occasion of \"Europe
\nDay\" this special issue, dedicated to the European Union and its
\nrelationship with Indonesia and the Association of Southeast
\nAsian Nations (ASEAN).<\/p>\n
Yesterday, it was exactly 50 years ago that the Second World
\nWar in Europe came to its end, having taken the life of many
\nmillions of innocent victims and left large parts of the
\ncontinent devastated.<\/p>\n
Today, a European Union, consisting of 15 member states,
\ncelebrates the 45th anniversary of the Declaration of Robert
\nSchuman, which marked the beginning of the European integration
\nprocess.<\/p>\n
After the sufferings and the deprivation of the war, six
\ncountries in Europe were determined to lay the basis for lasting
\npeace and stability. \"If you have no longer full control of coal
\nand steel, you can no longer declare war,\" was the argument that
\npersuaded former war enemies to pool their heavy industries in
\nthe European Coal and Steel Community. The road to the European
\nUnion thus commenced as a peace initiative aimed at economic
\nintegration.<\/p>\n
From the very outset of the integration process, member states
\nhave relinquished a measure of sovereignty to independent
\ninstitutions representing their national and shared interests. In
\nthis spirit a set of common policies has been developed and
\nimplemented, but only for areas where a common approach was
\ndeemed advantageous.<\/p>\n
As a result of such policies, 370 million Europeans are now
\ncitizens of the European Union with the right to live and work,
\nwhile remaining nationals of their country, anywhere within a
\nsingle market in which goods, services and capital can also
\nfreely move.<\/p>\n
Looking to the future, there is the commitment to an economic
\nand monetary union with a single currency at the turn of the
\ncentury and the further development of the common foreign and
\nsecurity policy. Next year the institutional framework of the
\nunion will be reviewed in the light of these and other
\nobjectives.<\/p>\n
Though changes may be necessary, the European Union will
\ncertainly not become a unitary state with rigid structures. On
\nthe contrary, the diversity of the individual countries, regions
\nand cultures, which form an integral part of Europe, must be
\nmaintained.<\/p>\n
The European Community has never been inward-looking and, from
\nearly on, special economic and trade relations have been
\nestablished with other regions. Cooperation with Indonesia and
\nother countries in Asia started in the second half of the 1970s.
\nAnd in 1980, the European Community and ASEAN embarked on a
\nformal dialog within the framework of an economic cooperation
\nagreement.<\/p>\n
Trade between both regions has quickly expanded since, to the
\nextent that the European market became, in 1990, Indonesia's
\nfirst export destination worldwide for manufactured products, a
\nsuccess story for Indonesia's policy of promoting non-oil and gas
\nexports. Over the past 25 years, European companies have been the
\nlargest foreign investor in Indonesia, and we are of course keen
\nto keep that position.<\/p>\n
When Indonesia celebrates, this year, the 50th anniversary of
\nthe Declaration of Independence, she can look back with great
\npride at many very successful achievements, to some of which, I
\nwould like to think, the European Union and its member states
\nhave made a positive contribution, through trade and development
\nassistance.<\/p>\n
A great deal can still be done on both sides to expand our
\ntrade and cooperation. With regard to trade, we should work
\ntogether on the political level to give real life to the new
\nWorld Trade Organization.<\/p>\n
As to cooperation, the European Commission is alive to the
\nopportunities created by the economic dynamism in Indonesia and
\nwishes to develop mechanisms that would help economic operators
\nto even better focus on trade and investment prospects, for
\ninstance, through enhanced information services. There is
\ndefinitely scope for more cross-fertilization between the
\nEuropean Union and Indonesia and its ASEAN partners.<\/p>\n
In this regard, we should not only explore an intensification
\nof the cooperation mechanisms already in place, but also consider
\nan increase in educational, scientific and cultural exchanges.<\/p>\n
The European Commission greatly values the relationship
\nbetween the European Union and Indonesia. Both sides have a lot
\nto offer to each other. It is in these good spirits that we look
\nforward to the continuing development of a partnership based on
\nmutual benefit and respect.<\/p>\n
Mr. Klauspeter Schmallenbach<\/p>\n
Head of Representation<\/p>\n
European Commission in Indonesia<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/message-from-the-eu-representative-in-indonesia-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }