Connectivity is an important buzzword when it comes to diplomacy, encompassing everything from transportation to innovation, from tourism to education. But when it comes to EU-ASEAN relations, the term raises important questions that go beyond the good premises mentioned in formal documents. Catherine Setiawan, a research fellow at political foundation Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung’s EANGAGE Project, discusses whether the reality of connectivity’s importance lives up to its hype and if pursuing shared connectivity goals can help the EU and ASEAN become global economic forces.

#eu #asean #analysis #trade #connectivity #europe #internationalrelations

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/asean-eu-connectivity/

German Federal President Frank Walter Steinmeier’s Southeast Asian visit this week comes at a critical political and social juncture. The same month as the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Steinmeier will travel to meet key figures in Malaysia and Cambodia at a time when Berlin is looking towards a reevaluation of its international relations, including Southeast Asia. In this analysis, Chhengpor Aun discusses this “turning point” for Germany and the EU and what the visit could mean for the next phase of Germany’s relations with Southeast Asia.

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/german-president-steinmeier-southeastasia-visit/

#diplomacy #politics #germany #EU #asean #southeastasia

As countries become increasingly reliant on interconnected cross-border trade networks, there is an urgent need for new methods of digital trade facilitation. Pingkan Audrine, research fellow in the connectivity cluster at the KAS Eangage project, discusses the Single Window system as a method to tackle systemic challenges to traditional trade barriers and supply chains and how the E.U. can learn lessons from ASEAN in the implementation of this “one-stop-shop” approach to digital trade.

#trade #EU #Asean #digitaltransformation

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/digital-transformation-single-window-trade/

One landmark of Cambodia’s 2022 ASEAN chairmanship was the proposal of the ASEAN Green Deal, a push for greater Southeast Asian cooperation towards green economies and infrastructure and a more sustainable future. But the proposal’s significance stretches beyond intra-regional relations. It also highlights the significance of ASEAN - EU influence and collaboration. Chheang Vannarith, president of the Asian Vision Institute and EANAGE Project Partner discusses how the EU Green Deal acted as a source of inspiration for its ASEAN counterpart and why green economic development and sustainable transformation are vital for both Europe and Southeast Asia’s success.

#EU #ASEAN #greeneconomy #economicdevelopment #sustainability

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/green-deal-asean-eu/

At the end of February, the delegation of the European Parliament’s human rights subcommittee finalised its human rights visit to the Philippines and, following meetings with politicians and judges, the verdict seemed to be favourable to current president Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. The EU deemed that human rights have improved since the era of Marcos Jr.s’ predecessor Rodrigo Duterte and his “war on drugs,” but, as Chris Fitzgerald explains, on-the-ground events tell a different story. In this opinion piece, Fitzgerald discusses how fatal drug raids continue under Marcos Jr. as journalists and activists are silenced, and why the international community needs to hold his administration to account. 

#Philippines #HumanRights #EU #Opinion

https://southeastasiaglobe.com/marcos-human-rights-violations-eu/