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  1. Negotiations

EU-ASEAN

The European Union was planning on a bilateral trade agreement with the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) for many years. On 4 May 2007, the two sides agreed to start negotiations.

The EU-ASEAN FTA is supposed to be a comprehensive agreement. While ASEAN states are hoping to gain additional market access in the EU, the agreement is expected to have a much bigger impact in strengthening business opportunities for European TNCs in the region.

The talks have moved slowly and it’s not clear if the final deal will take the form of separate agreements between the EU and individual ASEAN members, something the EU seems to prefer. This would allow European governments to avoid taking on any commitments that support the regime in Burma but also to deal with the economic heterogeneity among ASEAN members.

EU procedures require that all ASEAN countries sign a Partnership Cooperation Agreement, containing a commitment to human rights, as a prerequisite to an FTA. Indonesia has already concluded its PCA with the EU, Singapore and Thailand are in advanced stages of negotiations, and Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei are soon to begin. The Philippine government stated early on that it expects problems in negotiating a PCA, as the agreement apparently requires that the signatory state join the International Criminal Court.

Click here for the European Commission’s page on the EU-Indonesia FTA

last update: May 2012
photo: People’s Health Movement

EU-Thai ties back on track, say diplomats
28-Sep-2010 Bangkok Post
The Asia Europe Meeting to be held in Brussels next week will provide the first platform for high-level bilateral talks between the EU and Thailand, including ways to launch an EU-Thailand FTA, since Thaksin Shinawatra was ousted as prime minister, the chief of the European Commission in Thailand says.
EU approves start of free-trade talks with Malaysia
12-Sep-2010 DPA
European Union trade ministers on Friday approved the launch of free trade negotiations with Malaysia, in a move which officials hope could stimulate billions of dollars of business flows.
RP seeking free trade deal with EU
1-Sep-2010 Business World
The Philippines has signaled its interest to the European Union to engage in talks for a free trade deal, Trade officials told reporters in a briefing on Wednesday.
The EU-Malaysia FTA: an overdue assignment
30-Aug-2010 New Europe
Southeast Asia is emerging from the global economic downturn much faster than the old continent – a scenario that holds a vast potential for the EU to push further its exports.
EU eyes M’sia trade talks
27-Jul-2010 Straits Times
The European Union has started informal talks with Malaysia on a free trade pact that could open markets in spirits, cars and services to Europe
Trade talks between Singapore and EU well on track
6-Jul-2010 dpa
Trade negotiations between Singapore and the European Union are on track with an agreement expected by next year, an EU official said Tuesday.
EU and Philippines initial partnership, cooperation deal
26-Jun-2010 Bloomberg
The European Union and the Philippines initialed on Friday in Brussels the text of a new partnership and cooperation agreement (PCA), following its completion on June 3. The PCA is not a free-trade agreement. However, should the EU and Philippines decide to negotiate an FTA, the PCA would facilitate its conclusion.
Aquino told: Submit RP-EU trade pact to Senate
10-Jun-2010 AllVoices.com
The militant fisherfolk alliance Pamalakaya on Wednesday urged Philippine President-elect “Noynoy” Aquino to submit the approved RP-European Union Partnership and Cooperation Agreement to the Philippine Senate for deliberation.
RP, EU conclude PCA after 2 years
7-Jun-2010 Business Mirror
After two years of intense negotiations, the Philippines and the European Union have concluded the Partnership Cooperation Agreement (PCA) that covers political issues, counterterrorism, human rights, trade and migration cooperation.
RP gov’t urged to resist EU pressure for ’economic integration’
28-May-2010 IBON
The just-concluded EU-ASEAN foreign ministers meeting in Madrid ended with apparent agreement on economic integration mechanisms and the EU calling the ASEAN countries not to implement protectionist measures.