Europe retains commitment to helping Asia: Patten

Europe retains commitment to helping Asia: Patten

In the light of the newly-launched initiative for a new
partnership between Europe Union (EU) and Association of
Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN), the EU Commissioner for External
Relations, Chris Patten, shares his views with The Jakarta Post's
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja on measures to enhance cooperation between
the two continents since the recovery of Asia from the financial
crisis in 1997.

Q: Could you elaborate more on the new partnership that you
launched with ASEAN?

A: We have at the moment extremely close relations with Japan,
China and South Korea.

But I have been concerned that we can improve our relationship
with Southeast Asia, which has languished to some extent since
the Asian financial crash in 1997 - 1998. The trade relations
between us are very good and because we are big investors in
Southeast Asia and the biggest providers of development
assistance, I don't think that the relationship has reached its
potential.

We must initiate the increase of trade and investment between
Southeast Asia and Europe.

We are also happy to help ASEAN in its own integration and to
help the region face common problems, like terrorism.

But we recognize that some countries -- in addition to what we
have done regionally -- want to develop with us bilateral
relations, which we already have with several countries, that are
geographically nearer to the European Union.

So we suggested that countries negotiate agreements with us,
covering not just an economic agenda, but issues like
counterterrorism, science and technology, education and human
rights ... a model agreement could incorporate the whole of our
relationships with the countries in the region.

I think if we can do this, we will greatly strengthen and
develop relations, both regionally and bilaterally.

Europe's relationship with Asia has been weaker in recent
years in a number of ways.

Against that background, many are concerned that our relations
with ASEAN need to be reinvigorated as they are not as dynamic as
they should be. Before the financial crisis there was huge
interest by Europe in Southeast Asia, it lessened after the
crash. I think people underestimate the extraordinary recovery of
some of the countries. We need this new stage to give these
relationships more shape and form.

These communications are a sincere proposal from our side to
strengthen our relationship with the region.

We decided to add several representatives from the region --
from Singapore, Malaysia and Phnom Penh -- and we increased
development assistance by 30 percent for the coming period. I
think this is a solid demonstration of our commitment to the
region.

Will the ongoing discussion of the constitution in Europe
influence the cooperation?

I think that it should be recognized that relations with Asia
are going to be influenced by the enlargement of the membership
of the European Union. But that should happen in a positive way.

Ten new countries will join the European Union, making the
total 25 and increasing the population by a hundred million. That
is a much bigger market for the ASEAN countries to sell into, a
market with a single set of rules and a single set of
regulations. It should be good for the economy of ASEAN.

Because of this enlargement a number of countries that
previously had not much involvement with Southeast Asian
countries will form relations. I think that will be a positive
development.

In regards to the enlargement of the Asia-Europe
Meeting(ASEM), why does the EU refuse to include more ASEAN
members?

It will be discussed at the ASEM summit next year. The issue
involves both Asian and Europe members and I am sure that we will
be able to resolve it.

What will the terms of the partnership be?

We have already proposed some terms of agreement. In Indonesia
and the Philippines, for example, we are concerned with fighting
the financial resources of terrorism, in the training of the
judiciary and the improvement of border control. We are also
looking for possibilities to support the counter terrorism
movement in Malaysia. These are practical steps and we are
spending quite a lot of money on these projects.

There has been a perception that Europe continues to
scrutinize Asia's human rights and democratization process. How
can the two continents be partners if such conditions continue?

We have been involved in the discussion of democracy and human
rights in Asia for some years. I never believed we should be
arrogant about human rights issues as European, because our own
records are hopeless. If you look at Europe in the last century
you will find proof.

Nor should we discuss human rights as if they were a European
invention. India was practicing political tolerance when we were
still ruled by kings. We shouldn't discuss human rights with any
other attitude than a basic mutual respect.

What is your comment on the ongoing situation in Aceh
(Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam)?

We raised the issue with the Indonesian foreign minister with
a total acceptance of the territorial integrity of Indonesia. We
raised our concern about humanitarian workers in Indonesia
experiencing difficulties in reaching the victims. I hope the
minister will take this issue into account in the next few weeks.