EU-ASEAN Relations in the 21st Century: In Search for Common Values to Forge a Partnership

Abstract

In the last 25 years, Asia has been going through dramatic changes and has emerged as the world’s fastest-growing region. The rise of Asia as a new global player is no longer in doubt, and will continue in the next decade to transform the world’s geopolitical landscape. The region has indeed demonstrated a remarkable resilience during the 2008–2009 world economic and financial crisis — despite smaller growth rates, most Asian economies have continued to expand and through the crisis have reinforced their position on the world stage. Asia could be a major contributor to global economic growth in the coming years (co-chair’s statement of the 18th ASEAN-EU ministerial meeting, 26 May 2010).1 For now, growth is generating wealth, respect and freedom of action. Confident in its economic power and relying on the sheer size of its population, Asia is naturally claiming a new position on the world scene. But will Asia’s growing economic power translate into political and military power? While the global power shift will certainly lead to a multipolar world in the economic sphere, Pax Americana in the region is likely to remain unchallenged for the foreseeable future, despite noises about the decline of American power.2 During the transition period conflict between states could arise, and regionalization may offer a better way of governance.KeywordsEuropean UnionRegional IntegrationEconomic IntegrationLisbon TreatyGlobal PlayerThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.