Key takeaway: The current geopolitical and geoeconomic environment, along with overlapping strategic interests of the EU and ASEAN, creates strong opportunities to deepen Europe–Southeast Asia relations across the board. Established EU–ASEAN cooperation mechanisms provide a solid platform for smaller EU members to advance ties with ASEAN and individual Southeast Asian countries. To stand out, however,… Continue reading 2027 and beyond: Advancing EU and Slovak relations with Southeast Asia
Key takeaways: In May 2026, ASEAN concluded negotiations on the Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA), with expected signing in November 2026 during the ASEAN Summit. As ASEAN’s digital economy is expected to grow from less than US$400 billion in 2022 to US$2 trillion by 2030, the DEFA will reshape the conditions under which European firms… Continue reading Preparing for DEFA: A European strategy for ASEAN’s digital market
Key takeaways: ASEAN should be a priority partner for the EU in establishing a “strategic partnership on semiconductors” as envisioned by the proposed Chips Act 2.0. The EU and ASEAN should focus on high-value-added investment, mutually beneficial R&D partnerships, cooperation on certification, development of raw materials projects, and workforce development to build synergies in semiconductor… Continue reading Chips that connect: EU–ASEAN cooperation in a fragmented world
Key takeaways: The global map of public attraction has shifted dramatically. Over the past few years, the US’ global image has deteriorated sharply, weakening in the process also the broader international appeal of “the West.” This does not mean that publics everywhere have become anti-Western or pro-China, but it does mean that the EU can… Continue reading China’s global appeal is changing. The EU needs to rethink its public diplomacy
Finland’s academic engagement with China has a long and active history. In recent years, concerns among academia and the public have emerged on the nature of cooperation, especially with respect to Chinese institutions with known military affiliation. Due to these concerns from both the government and academics, universities were expected to increase scrutiny when forming… Continue reading Finland: Increasingly attentive, but risks still emerge in academic engagement with China
