1. The 31st Meeting of the EU-ASEAN Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) was held on Wednesday, 8 May 2024 in Jakarta.

2. ASEAN and the European Union (EU) are strategic partners with a shared interest in upholding and respecting international law and in maintaining peace, security and stability, including through the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms. They both recalled the substantive outcomes of the EU-ASEAN Commemorative Summit in 2022 and welcomed the successful convening of the 24th EU-ASEAN Ministerial Meeting, which took place in Brussels on 2 February 2024. They both recalled the recognition by Leaders of the common strategic interest of holding regular leaders level engagement in the future.

3. ASEAN and the EU also exchanged views on recent developments in both regions, including regional issues of mutual concern. Lao PDR presented its priorities and key deliverables under the theme of “ASEAN: Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience” for its Chairmanship in 2024. The EU provided updates on the implementation of its priorities for 2019-2024, notably the Next Generation EU, the European Green Deal, and the Global Gateway. They also underlined the importance of upholding the principles of democracy, rule of law, and human rights. They reaffirmed, as for all nations, the need to respect the sovereignty, political independence, and territorial integrity of Ukraine. They also expressed support for the implementation of ASEAN’s Five-Point Consensus on Myanmar.

4. ASEAN and the EU reviewed the implementation of the Plan of Action to Implement the EU-ASEAN Strategic Partnership (2023-2027) and welcomed its significant achievements, with 43 percent of action lines achieved.

5. They both reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening EU-ASEAN cooperation and to uphold ASEAN Centrality. They noted that both the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) and the EU Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific share relevant fundamental principles. They will explore the potential collaboration in the four priority areas of the AOIP and the seven priority areas of the EU Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, all in accordance with the principles of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, the ASEAN Charter, and the AOIP. In this context, they recalled the ASEAN Indo-Pacific Forum as well as Business and Investment Summit, which were held on the sidelines of the 43rd ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in September 2023 in Indonesia.

6. ASEAN and the EU noted the progress made in the context of the Global Gateway, notably with the Team Europe Initiative on Sustainable Connectivity becoming operational in 2024 and further operationalisation of the Green Team Europe Initiative, which aims to enhance EU-ASEAN cooperation and be complemented by concrete projects at both regional and national levels across Southeast Asia. The meeting welcomed the progress made in implementing Team Europe’s expected mobilisation of around EUR 10 billion for the benefit of the ASEAN region linked to the implementation of the EU Global Gateway strategy and the Team Europe Initiatives on Green and Sustainable Connectivity for ASEAN as announced at the EU-ASEAN Commemorative Summit in December 2022.

7. They reiterated their commitments to promoting sustainable development and addressing the global challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss and environmental protection, leaving no one behind. This work will be undertaken through the relevant platforms and EU-ASEAN dialogue mechanisms. On this note, they looked forward to the 4th EU-ASEAN Dialogue on Sustainable Development to be hosted by the EU, which will help advance concrete EU-ASEAN cooperation in promoting green transition in the region.

8. ASEAN and the EU also welcomed the holding of the first-ever EU-ASEAN Energy Dialogue in 2023 and looked forward to its next iteration. They noted the work of the ASEAN Catalytic Green Finance Facility and Team Europe’s support under Global Gateway.

9. They looked forward to the convening of the Fourth Joint Working Group on Palm Oil between the European Union and Relevant ASEAN Member States to continue promoting mutual understanding on the sustainable production of vegetable oils and addressing the challenges in this sector in a holistic, transparent, and non-discriminatory manner. They noted that relevant producing countries and the EU have established a Joint Task Force to strengthen the cooperation for the implementation of the EU’s Deforestation Regulation. 

10. ASEAN and the EU welcomed the continued wide-ranging, substantive policy dialogues between ASEAN and EU counterparts supported by the Enhanced Regional EU-ASEAN Dialogue Instrument (E-READI), which promotes dialogue and cooperation on a wide range of policy areas of shared interest. In this respect, they both welcomed the convening of the 5th EU-ASEAN Human Rights Policy Dialogue in Brussels in October 2023 and looked forward to holding the 6th EU-ASEAN Human Rights Policy Dialogue in 2025.

11. They both reaffirmed their commitment to intensifying engagement in EU-ASEAN trade and economic issues, exploring avenues in the short and medium terms to promote cooperation in areas of mutual interest, such as the digital economy, green technologies and green services and supply chain resilience, while reaffirming a future EU-ASEAN FTA as a common long-term objective. In that respect, they both welcomed the ongoing work of the EU-ASEAN Joint Working Group for Trade and Investment. They both looked forward to the 20th ASEAN Economic Ministers-EU Trade Commissioner Consultation later in 2024.

12. ASEAN and the EU welcomed joint efforts to promote EU-ASEAN connectivity, including through the Global Gateway Team Europe Initiative on Sustainable Connectivity for ASEAN. The two partners will enhance digital cooperation as reflected in the EU-ASEAN Joint Ministerial Statement on Connectivity in line with the stated vision of the ASEAN Digital Masterplan 2025. They both welcomed the launch of negotiation of the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA) and looked forward to exploring enhanced cooperation in this field. They also welcomed progress on the implementation of the EU-ASEAN Comprehensive Air Transport Agreement (CATA), the world’s first region-to- region aviation agreement, and looked forward to its contribution to strengthening cooperation on civil aviation and enhancing air connectivity between and beyond ASEAN and the EU. They welcomed the EU’s new SCOPE programme which aims to support sustainable connectivity between ASEAN and the EU as well as within ASEAN, including in the fields of trade, digital, renewable energy, transport and people-to-people connectivity. They welcomed the start of three new projects under SCOPE on civil aviation, to improve safety and sustainability by linking the CATA and higher education, to support exchanges between ASEAN and the EU, boosting knowledge sharing and Intellectual Property Rights, to enhance harmonisation and economic ties.

13. ASEAN and the EU recognised that peace, security and stability in ASEAN and the EU are vulnerable to a range of common, transboundary threats – including terrorism, violent extremism, cyber-attacks, maritime security challenges, illicit trade in and use of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear materials, and the spread of misinformation and disinformation.

14. They both underscored the importance of strengthening cooperation in cybersecurity, building on the EU-ASEAN Statement on Cybersecurity Cooperation, which was adopted in 2019.They also underscored the importance of strengthening cooperation on Maritime Security, notably through the holding of the EU-ASEAN High-Level Dialogue on Maritime Security Cooperation. ASEAN and the EU welcomed the EU’s support for ASEAN-led mechanisms, including the EU’s active engagement in the ASEAN Regional Forum and the ASEAN Ministerial Conference on Cybersecurity. ASEAN noted with appreciation the EU’s interest in the observership programme of the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus Experts’ Working Groups on Peacekeeping Operations, and on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief for the 2024-2027 cycle, subject to its application processes. ASEAN noted the EU’s commitment to adhere to all relevant ASEAN-led security mechanisms, including the East Asia Summit, and the ADMM-Plus, in full respect of the relevant procedures and processes.

15. ASEAN and the EU underlined their shared interest in developing cooperation in the field of Disaster Management and Emergency Response notably between the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Centre) and the EU’s Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC).

16. They both reaffirmed their commitment to regional cooperation and integration, and rules-based multilateralism as well as to respecting and promoting international law and internationally agreed norms and standards, in line with the UN Charter. They also recognised the importance of a rules-based, non- discriminatory, open, fair, inclusive, equitable and transparent multilateral trading system, with the World Trade Organization (WTO) at its core.

17. The meeting was co-chaired by Ambassador Hjayceelyn M. Quintana, Permanent Representative of the Republic of the Philippines to ASEAN, and by Ms. Leila Fernández Stembridge, Head of the South-East Asia Division of the European External Action Service, together with Mr. Mario Ronconi, Head of Unit for South and South-East Asia, European Commission Directorate-General for International Partnerships. It was attended by members of the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN and officials from the EU, as well as officials from the ASEAN Secretariat. EU Member States, Timor-Leste, and the European Investment Bank also attended the meeting as observers.