Connectivity is a priority of ASEM, bringing countries, people and societies closer together. It facilitates access and is a means to foster economic growth and people-to-people ties. It must be inclusive, mutually beneficial and should work towards the achievement of the UN sustainable development goals. Cooperation on connectivity among ASEM partners has taken different forms, including digital, physical/infra-structural, institutional and sustainable connectivity. At the 24th EU-ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in February 2024, the European Commission unveiled new plans for higher education, civil aviation, intellectual property, the Digital Economy Package for the Philippines and support for the Lao National Road 2 rehabilitation. The EU-ASEAN Sustainable Connectivity Team Europe Initiative seeks to strengthen trade links and people-to-people connections through projects that enhance civil aviation safety and sustainability, support higher education exchanges and harmonise intellectual property rights. ASEAN and EU jointly launched the ASEAN-EU Strategic Partnership Blue Book in May 2024. The Blue Book highlights, inter alia, the EU’s pledge to mobilise €10 billion in investments for green and connectivity programmes in the ASEAN region, to promote economic growth and regional cooperation.

Read more:
ASEAN, Forging forward: ASEAN, EU Launch Blue Book 2024-2025, 8 May 2024
European Comission, Global Gateway: EU and ASEAN strengthen their partnership on sustainable connectivity, 2 February 2024