From 3 to 5 August, High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell will visit Cambodia for the annual Ministerial Meeting between the EU and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), as well as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Ministerial Meeting, and for holding a number of bilateral meetings.

During his visit, the High Representative will meet Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen, as well as Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn, who is also the Special Envoy of the ASEAN Chair on Myanmar. The bilateral discussions will focus on post-pandemic recovery, Russia’s war against Ukraine and its global implications, regional cooperation and the worrying developments in Myanmar, as well as work to deepen EU relations with Cambodia, which holds the ASEAN Chairmanship this year.

On 4 August, High Representative/Vice-President Borrell will, together with the Philippines, co-chair the annual EU-ASEAN Ministerial Meeting. At this meeting, the EU and ASEAN will adopt a new EU-ASEAN Plan of Action, which sets out a wide range of areas slated for deeper cooperation over the next five years (2023-2027), including pandemic recovery, trade, rules-based and sustainable connectivity, climate change, research, and security. Preparations for the first-ever EU-ASEAN Commemorative Summit involving all 27 EU member state Leaders, to be held in Brussels in December, will play a prominent role in discussions.

On 5 August, High Representative/Vice-President Borrell will represent the EU at the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Ministerial, chaired by Cambodia.  ASEAN Member States will participate alongside the other 17 ARF Partners to exchange views on regional and global security issues.  The High Representative will share the EU’s united condemnation of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and its violations of the UN Charter and assess the impact of Russia’s war on global economy and food security. The High Representative will also raise regional issues of concern, including the increasing violence perpetrated by the military junta in Myanmar.

While in Phnom Penh, High Representative/Vice-President Borrell will have additional bilateral meetings with other ASEAN and international interlocutors.

Audiovisual coverage of the mission will be available on EbS. Follow also @JosepBorrellF and @eu_eeas on Twitter.

Background

The year 2022 marks 45 years of partnership between the EU and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).  In 2021, the EU recognised the key role of ASEAN centrality in the EU Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, and elevated the EU Mission to ASEAN to a fully-fledged EU Delegation.  The EU’s Indo-Pacific strategy outlines the EU’s commitments to contribute to the region’s stability, security, prosperity and sustainable development, in line with the principles of democracy, the rule of law, human rights and international law.