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
As Myanmar’s military regime regains the strategic initiative in the civil war and seeks to normalize its relations with other Southeast Asian countries, the EU faces the politically difficult reality of having to restore ties with the junta. Key takeaways: Backed by China and Russia, the Tatmadaw has regained the strategic initiative in the civil war and… Continue reading The Tatmadaw empire strikes back, and the EU will likely soon have to swallow a bitter pill
De-risking has been the leading theme of China policy in the EU in recent years, from the corridors of Brussels to Berlin and Vilnius. While seeking to reduce dependence on China and promote its domestic industry, the EU has also striven to establish new partnerships around the globe to diversify its global economic footprint and… Continue reading Getting de-risking from China right: What ASEAN can and cannot do for Europe
