EU's External Relations with South East Asia

Abstract

For Europe South East Asia has been a focus of strategic interests. Since 1977 formal contacts began and through these 30 years the two regions experienced mutual comprehension as well as misunderstanding owing partly to the performing balancing functions. Human rights issue is up to now a very subtle one to deal with. This entails asymmetrical position not only between Europe and Asia but also among member states of the ASEAN in levels of socio-economic developments. ASEM took the significant role in the interregionalism during the past decade. Still there needs some concrete agenda for the long-term and sustainable relationship. One such agenda might be learning lessons from Europe in terms of half century integration history and processes.