The Forum will be a unique event, bringing together for the first time partners from East Africa, the Gulf, and South Africa, with partners from South Asia, South East Asia, East Asia and the Pacific. Several regional organisations from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific Ocean have also been invited.

The Forum will highlight the ambition of the EU and its Member States to deepen their engagement in the Indo-Pacific and to promote their cooperation model based on openness and inclusiveness.

It will be an opportunity to launch new initiatives in the following three priority themes: connectivity and digital issues; global issues (climate, environment, health); security and defence. Clear tangible deliverables will be announced at the event today.

Background

The Joint Communication on the EU Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific adopted by the European Commission and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on 16 September 2021 demonstrated the EU’s recognition of the growing importance of the region and its commitment to cooperation with its partners in this part of the world.

The Indo-Pacific region represents the world’s economic and strategic centre of gravity. It is home to 60% of the world’s population producing 60% of global GDP, contributing two thirds of current global growth. By 2030, the overwhelming majority (90%) of the 2.4 billion new members of the middle class entering the global economy will live in the Indo-Pacific.

Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region is crucial to implementing the international community’s global agenda, including achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Over the years, the EU has consistently made significant contributions in the region in terms of development cooperation and humanitarian assistance, tackling climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, and contributing to upholding international law, including human rights and freedom of navigation.

The EU, therefore, has a big stake in the Indo-Pacific region, and has every interest that the regional architecture remains open and rules-based. However current dynamics in the Indo-Pacific, have given rise to intense geopolitical competition, adding to increasing pressure on trade and supply chains as well as in tensions in technological, political and security areas. The universality of human rights is also being challenged. Sixty percent of world maritime trade passes through its oceans, including a third through the South China Sea. Its passages need to remain free and open.

This is why the EU’s Foreign Ministers decided to reinforce the EU’s strategic focus, presence and actions in the Indo-Pacific. The approach and engagement is principled with a long-term perspective, with the aim of contributing to the stability, security, prosperity and sustainable development of the region, based on the promotion of democracy, rule of law, human rights and international law.

This renewed commitment to the region is inclusive of all partners wishing to cooperate with the EU.