On 1 August 2019, H.E. Mr. Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Singapore, and H.E. Mrs. Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the Union on Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission, co-chaired the ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting during  the 52^nd ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM)/ Post Ministerial Conferences (PMCs) held in Bangkok.

         The Meeting acknowledged the importance of working towards elevating ASEAN-EU Dialogue Relations to a Strategic Partnership and discussed current priority areas, such as climate change, sustainable development, connectivity and security cooperation, especially cyber security and counter terrorism. The Ministers looked forward to the timely conclusion of the ASEAN-EU Comprehensive Air Transport Agreement as well as the negotiations for the ASEAN-EU Free Trade Agreement. They underscored the commitment of ASEAN and EU on promoting multilateralism and free trade. 

 The Ministers exchanged views on regional and global issues such as the Korean Peninsula and the South China Sea. The EU appreciated ASEAN’s adoption of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific. The Meeting also adopted the ASEAN-EU Statement on Cybersecurity Cooperation that promotes open and secured information communication technology.

            ASEAN and EU established Dialogue Relations and close cooperation since 1977. EU is currently the largest direct investor and the second largest trade partner with ASEAN, and is an active provider of development assistance in many important areas, such as environmental protection, youth exchanges, and educational programmes. Singapore is currently the country coordinator for ASEAN-EU Dialogue Relations.