EU Delegation to Indonesia, Brunei Darussalam and ASEAN

The EU and Indonesia enjoy a wide-ranging relationship which has developed significantly in recent years. At its heart lie massive commercial interests. With Indonesia, this totals € 17 billion in annual trade and some € 4 billion of EU company investments, with the EU the second most important destination for Indonesian exports (excluding oil and gas). We also enjoy a deep political friendship – cemented in November 2009 by the signature of the EU-Indonesia Partnership and Co-operation Agreement (PCA) – which draws on the contacts Europe and Indonesia have had for centuries and the values and principles that the EU and Indonesia share. The EU and Indonesia have jointly identified key priority areas in the PCA for intensified engagement: education; environment; trade and investment and human rights and democracy. Alongside this bilateral aspect of our relations, the EU is teaming up ever more closely on the international stage with Indonesia as the country takes up its rightful place as an increasingly important global player, including in the G20. Our cooperation with Indonesia on tackling global environmental issues is particularly important in this area. Our cooperation with Brunei is smaller but nonetheless rich and diverse.

The EU and ASEAN have enjoyed a close relationship for over thirty years. As the two major regional integration initiatives in the world, ASEAN and the EU are indeed natural partners and it is no wonder our cooperation has flourished so strongly. The EU and ASEAN share the same goals for their citizens – peace, stability and prosperity. Both are committed to address issues by a multilateral approach. With € 135 billion in total trade between the EU and ASEAN, in 2008, we are crucial partners commercially. The EU is ASEAN's largest trading partner after Japan. Together with other "dialogue partners" ASEAN and the EU address regional and international security issues of common interest and concern in the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF). The objective of the ARF is to foster constructive dialogue and consultation through confidence building and preventive diplomacy.