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.