EU-ASEAN relations: The next forty years

As rapporteur of the latest European Parliament report on EU political relations with ASEAN, as well as a part of the European Parliament delegation for relations with the countries of Southeast Asia and ASEAN, Reinhard Bütikofer has a deep understanding and expertise of the region. Bütikofer travels frequently to Southeast Asia, not only to promote stronger ties with the European Union but also to support and bolster trade and investment. Bütikofer is a strong advocate for peace within the region, including for the resolution of disputes in the South China Sea.

Clarita Carlos was the first female, civilian President of the National Defense College of the Philippines and has written prolifically on a wide range of themes including political parties, elections, bureaucratic reform and democratic deficits. Today she heads the Center for Political and Democratic Reform and is a recognised pioneer in Political Psychology in the Philippines. Carlos continues to teach and to offer her expertise as a consultant to Congress and other government agencies, as well as academic institutions.

Bart Gaens is an experienced academic whose research has focussed on major power relations in East Asia, EU-Asia relations, and the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM). He previously led a research project on the EU’s relations with Asia at the University of Helsinki Network for European Studies and worked as an advisor in the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs during preparations for the ASEM6 Summit. He has published extensively on Europe-Asia interregional relations, with special focus on the ASEM process.

An international relations expert, Yeo Lay Hwee’s research interests revolve around comparative regionalism, multilateralism and governance networks. She has written extensively on issues pertaining to Asia-Europe relations in general, and specifically on the ASEM process and EU-ASEAN relations. In addition to leading the European Union Centre, she is also Council Secretary at the Singapore Institute of International Affairs, Adjunct Fellow at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies, and Adjunct Faculty at the Singapore Management University. Yeo is also a member of the Scientific Committee of a multi-year research project on ‘Trends in Global Governance and Europe’s Role’.

Before assuming his post as ASEAN Secretary-General, Lê Lương Minh was Vietnam’s Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs. In addition to that he was also Vietnam’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and Permanent Representative to the United Nations. A number of ASEAN scholars believe he has been instrumental in fomenting a more forceful Secretariat and strengthening the regional bloc’s institutions. He also led the drive for the EU to open a permanent mission in ASEAN and recently agreed the ASEAN-US Plan of Action 2016–2020.

During his time at the Asia and Oceania Department Peter Potman has focussed on enhancing interaction with stakeholders in the foreign policy of the Netherlands. During his tenure, the Department developed the “Asia Carrousel” as a domestic outreach programme, which aims to enhance knowledge and contacts between the Netherlands and the region. The Carrousel brings staff from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs together with various partners, including from academia, civil society, the private sector, the media and other government agencies. Embassies of Asian countries in The Hague and Dutch embassies in Asia and Oceania also participate in Carrousel events.

Suthad Setboonsarng is one of Southeast Asia’s top experts in international trade and investment, and has led Thai, ASEAN and private sector initiatives. As Thailand Trade Representative in the Office of the Prime Minister, a ministerial rank appointment, he coordinated and executed international trade, investment and other related assignments. Formerly a partner at PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Setboonsarng assisted Fortune 500 companies in their business operations in ASEAN and advised the Thai and ASEAN governments and the United Nations in developing their regional trade and investment policies.

Annika Siirak is currently a PhD Candidate at the University of Tartu and a visiting lecturer on the European Union at the Tallinn University of Technology, Estonia, focusing her research on the EU’s democracy promotion and regime transition. She previously was a Junior Professional at the Mission of the European Union to ASEAN in Jakarta, coordinating EU-ASEAN political relations, development cooperation and public diplomacy activities, in relation to celebrating the 40th anniversary of their dialogue relations in 2017.

With more than 30 years’ experience in the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jose Tavares was appointed Director General of ASEAN Cooperation in May 2016. He has previously held several high-level positions in the ministry promoting closer ASEAN cooperation, serving as Director for Dialogue Partners and Inter-Regional Affairs of ASEAN and Director for ASEAN Political and Security Cooperation. His diplomatic career also includes postings in New Zealand, Samoa and Tonga – serving as Ambassador-, Belgium, France and Switzerland.