Eminent EU Official Vistiors Programme: Priorities for EU Diplomacy in East Asia

Date/Time
Date(s): 14/11/2013
Time: 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm

Location
Lecture Theatre 2, Graduate Law Centre, Chinese University of Hong Kong

Language: English

Admission:

Speaker: 

Ambassador VIOREL ISTICIOAIA-BUDURA, Managing Director Asia/Pacific, European External Action Service, European Union

Event Summary: 

Ambassador Viorel Isticioia-Budura making a speech

Over 50 diplomats, HK government and business representatives, academics and graduate students attended the presentation and discussion with Ambassador Viorel Isticioia-Budura, Managing Director Asia/Pacific of the European External Action Service (EEAS) at the European Union Academic Programme. Ambassador Isticioaia-Budura analysed current relations between the European Union and the Asia-Pacific region and outlined a set of priorities in diplomatic relations for the coming years.

There is undoubtedly a global shift of power to Asia, but there also remain worrying flashpoints in the region. While Europe and Asia are linked in ever-more integrated supply chains of a generally booming trade, the Ambassador also observed a certain ‘institutional anemia’ in Asia itself, which hinders collective security arrangements and poses potentially global risks. The European Union, with over 60 years of successful reconciliation efforts and by now deep interdependence of its member states, sees itself as a principal champion of rule-based change in Asian conflict zones. In its relations with Asian countries, it follows a comprehensive approach to security – the ‘Three Ds” of Defense, Diplomacy and Development – to assist in addressing the root causes of domestic inter-state tensions. Emphasis is given to the cooperation with four key strategic partners: China, Japan, Korea and India. But the EU will also continue to provide help in institution building and regional integration to other Asian countries such as Afghanistan or Myanmar.

The Ambassador stressed that challenges for both Asia and Europa (such as climate change, resource shortages, cyber security or economic modernization) must be met in cooperation, but also that military means or market forces alone cannot solve any of them. In a reference to the 16th century humanist and neo-stoic Justus Lipsius (after whom the European Council building in Brussels is named), Mr. Isticioaia-Budura appealed to constancy and perseverance in EU-Asia relations, with the same firmness on principles of peaceful integration that the EU member states have shown in emerging from the recent European crisis.

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