The European Parliament,

–   having regard to the Commission Communication (COM(2001) 469 – C5&nbhy;0255/2002),

–   having regard to the conclusions of the Council on the above Communication, adopted by written procedure on 20 December 2001,

–   having regard to the 1996 Commission Communication "Creating a new dynamic in EU-ASEAN relations" (COM(1996) 314),

–   having regard to its resolution of 14 June 1995 on the Communication from the Commission to the Council "Towards a New Asia Strategy" (COM (1994) 314 - C4-0092/1994(1),

–   having regard to its resolution of 16 November 2000 on the ASEM III meeting(2) held in Seoul in October 2000,

–   having regard to its resolution of 13 June 2001 on the Commission working document: Perspectives and Priorities for the ASEM Process (Asia Europe Meeting) into the New Decade (COM(2000) 241 - C5-0505/2000 - 2000/2243(COS))(3),

–   having regard to the ASEP II meeting held in Manila from 26 to 28 August 2002,

–   having regard to the forthcoming ASEM IV Summit to be held from 22 to 24 September 2002 in Copenhagen,

–   having regard to the forthcoming ASEAN Summit to be held from 8 to 15 September 2002 in Vietnam/Cambodia,

–   having regard to its resolutions of 17 January 2001 on relations between the European Union and the People's Democratic Republic of Korea(4), 31 May 2001 on the outcome of the Council and Commission mission to Korea(5), and of 12 December 2001 on the Commission communication on the proposal for a Council decision approving the conclusion by the Commission of an agreement between the European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM) and the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organisation (KEDO) (SEC(2001) 1349 - C5-0596/2001 - 2001/2252(COS))(6),

–   having regard to its various resolutions on China, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, Japan, North and South Korea, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Mongolia, the ASEAN countries and Australia,

–   having regard to Rule 47(1) of its Rules of Procedure,

–   having regard to the report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy (A5&nbhy;0270/2002),

A.   whereas Asia is home to 56% of the world's population,

B.   whereas the Commission Communication has chosen to define Asia as including the broad continental landmass and, because of economic and political links as well as geographic proximity, Australia and New Zealand, but excluding central Asia,

C.   whereas both Asia and Europe are continents each representing a richness and diversity in terms of culture, religion, language and social and political systems,

D.   whereas the European Union's relations with Asia have developed considerably over recent years with political dialogues held within the framework of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), the Asia-Europe Parliamentary Partnership Meeting (ASEP), the ongoing EU-ASEAN dialogue, including active EU participation in the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), Summit Dialogues with China, India, Japan (and soon Korea), and continuing high-level contacts with Australia and New Zealand,

E.   whereas the EU has continued to contribute to peace and security issues in the region (towards the establishment of democratic government in Cambodia and East Timor, recently as the major donor for the reconstruction of Afghanistan, in its support for the inter-Korean dialogue and in its contribution to KEDO) and whereas it has established human rights dialogues with China and North Korea,

F.   whereas, however, only a few countries in the region have entered into fully comprehensive ("third generation") cooperation agreements with the EU,

G.   noting and welcoming the fact that the Chinese Communist Party has recently sent several delegations to EU states to study the European social and democratic system,

H.   having regard to the economic relations with Taiwan as the 13th largest trading partner of the EU, and the strong willingness of Taipei to have closer ties with the EU,

I.   whereas the European Parliament has continued to press for an upgrading of the EU&nbhy;ASEAN Cooperation Agreement, which has been blocked since the early 1990s,

J.   whereas it is unequivocally in the interests of both the EU and Asian nations to further strengthen their economic, political and cultural ties,

General background

1.  Welcomes the Communication "Europe and Asia: A Strategic Framework for Enhanced Partnership" and the consistent emphasis it attaches throughout to the importance of the EU's relations with Asia, a continent representing more than half the world's population;

2.  Stresses that the EU's political priority in Asia must be to firmly establish the universal principles of the rule of law and fundamental freedoms, inter alia in so far as this constitutes the only solid basis for all economic and social development;

3.  Cannot fail to point out the growing economic and political links between the EU and Asia expressed most formally in Summit meetings with certain countries, Declarations, ASEM, "third-generation" agreements with individual countries in Asia, and the increasing interdependence of the two regions in the financial and trade spheres; recognises, however, that there is much room for improvement and urges the EU to engage with Asia at all levels (economic, social, cultural, on human rights);

4.  Welcomes the recent ASEP II meeting in Manila and notes favourably its concluding statements on terrorism, human rights and the environment;

5.  Stresses the key role that can be played by the new EU Strategy in furthering EU-Asia relations but recognises that if the Strategy is to go beyond mere symbolism and be a guiding beacon for the decade ahead, the minimalist approach of the Council towards the region needs to be reconsidered; furthermore, the Strategy should set much clearer priorities for the region in general and the sub-regions in particular, and it should demonstrate a clearer common approach not least because the most recent developments require a specifically European voice in its dialogue with its partners;

6.  Believes that priority should be given to the consolidation and enhancement of relations with those countries which have shown clear progress in the field of democracy and human rights ; considers, in this regard, that it is important to build up a strategic partnership with such countries which can play a pivotal role for the democratisation of the whole continent;

7.  Invites the Commission to reflect on a further update of its Communication also taking into account the geopolitical tensions in the region and their effects on Europe, as well as the economic and financial implications of a long-lasting crisis in some of the major Asian countries, emphasising the importance of the EU's investment and trade activities for these countries;

ASEM and other regional bodies

8.  Stresses the need for the role of the Council to be clarified and to be better coordinated with that of the Commission, both at ASEM and in other fora, in order to present a coherent interface in dealings with the EU's Asia partners; regrets the impression given to our EU interlocutors that the EU's policy towards Asia is one assembled on a haphazard basis rather than one flowing from a strategic relationship;

9.  Stresses that the fact that countries such as India and Taiwan are excluded from ASEM deprives the forum of the benefits of the contribution that two democratic countries whose economies are among the most dynamic in Asia could make;

10.  Urges the Council and Commission therefore to find ways to associate India, other Asian countries and Taiwan in ASEM to help foster economic growth and democracy in the region;

11.  Recognises ASEM as a valuable potential instrument for practical cooperation and regrets the fact that the lack of a fully coherent strategy on the part of Member States at ASEM III, held in Seoul from 19 to 21 October 2001, together with the difficulty of obtaining systematic ministerial participation, led to a disappointing outcome;

12.  Is aware that there is a strong feeling in ASEM in favour of keeping the organisation informal and unbureaucratic; shares this view but nonetheless advocates that members examine just where the ASEM process is leading and the question of how to sustain the interest of leaders in the absence of concrete results; advocates the creation of an ASEM secretariat;

13.  Urges the EU to strengthen and support existing and emerging regional groupings or bodies (as for example the emerging East Asian Group, ASEAN + 3) not only because they will become an important structuring element in the international order but also because of our positive experience of European integration itself;

14.  Is of the opinion that in the light of the increasing regional and international role of China the strategic relationship with the People's Republic should go beyond the bilateral framework and take into cognisance her regional position;

Security in the region

15.  Recognises the fact that the general objective (set by the Commission) of strengthening the EU's engagement with Asia in the political and security fields remains the least credible objective as long as the EU has no effective common and foreign security policy; notes that, while the EU plays an important role as a donor in, e.g. Afghanistan, it needs to stress the fact that its actions are not parallel to those of the US but are unique and complementary;

16.  Recommends that the political pillar of the ASEM process should include a comprehensive approach on conflict prevention and peace keeping, e.g. supporting political dialogue between North and South Korea, as well as between the People's Republic of China and Taiwan on the question of Taiwan; and urges the Commission to propose that a dialogue be started within ASEM on security matters with a view to defining conflict prevention mechanisms;

17.  Expresses its concern at the arms build-up between China and Taiwan; urges both sides to de-escalate the arms build-up, and in particular for China to withdraw missiles in the coastal provinces across the Taiwan Straits;

18.  Urges Europe and Asia to take up a dialogue on global challenges post-September 11 2001, covering, among other issues, world security and governance, the threats to human rights and democracy, terrorism, illegal immigration, trafficking (drugs and in human beings);

19.  Invites the EU to play an even more active role in the Asean Regional Forum (ARF) and make any experience and know-how in regional security cooperation available to the ARF;

20.  Urges the Commission and the Council to play an active role in favour of de-escalation of tensions between India and Pakistan, insisting that Pakistan should take further action to prevent terrorist groups operating in and from its territory, to comply with its international obligations including UN Security Council Resolution 1373 (2001), to stop infiltration across the line of control and to encourage India to take further de-escalatory steps; to offer to act as a facilitator for contacts between the two countries in order to get them around the negotiating table;

21.  Stresses that in the light of the 11 September 2001 events it is important to enter into an intense dialogue with those Asian countries which have strong Islamic traditions in order to promote mutual respect between cultures and suggests an increase in citizen exchange programmes at the national and the EU level;

22.  Reiterates its opinion that small-calibre and light weapons should not be exported to governments or organisations guilty of systematic human rights violations, and therefore urges the Council, Commission and Member States to take all the necessary steps to stop the transfer and supply of such weapons to crisis regions in Asia;

Economic links

23.  Notes the reference in the Communication to strengthening educational and cultural exchanges with Asia but suggests that these must be seen as valuable tools to further mutual understanding and not exclusively as instruments to facilitate economic ties; stresses the need for inter-cultural and inter-religious dialogue; at the same time, recognises the difficulties faced by European SMEs in Asia and endorses economic cooperation programmes such as Asia Invest through which the EU encourages its SMEs to better use trade/investment opportunities available in Asia; urges the Commission to provide assistance to the ASEM scholarship initiative being promoted by South Korea, France and Malaysia;

24.  Welcomes the announcement that new Delegations are to be opened in Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia, Laos and Nepal, and reiterates its demand for the opening of a trade office in Taiwan in parallel with the other new offices in Asia (as was asked for by the European Parliament in its latest resolution on China) and regrets the fact that the –clearly necessary – opening of a Delegation in Kabul has taken up many of the resources originally provided for; regrets the "relatively modest size of Community assistance to Asia"(7); awaits the expected review of the ALA Regulation but, while respecting the need to make certain budgetary choices, urges the joint budgetary authority not to strengthen funding in one region at the expense of other regions;

25.  Calls on the Commission to initiate the process of negotiation which will lead to an EU&nbhy;Taiwan free trade agreement;

26.  Notes that Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) flows are being redirected. (If in the 90s 60% of the FDI went to ASEAN countries, it goes today to China, leaving the ASEAN countries with only 20%. This development could, in the long term, lead to a change in the economic balance and to new tensions between the major players.); invites the Commission to reflect on the importance of these developments for the EU and to take them into consideration for the EU's engagement in the region;

27.  Emphasises the fact that a better distribution of resources will not only help the EU to raise its profile and draw attention to its activities in the region, but will help the EU maintain its credibility, which is not being improved by, for example, protracted delays in opening promised Delegation offices;

28.  Urges the Commission to coordinate development assistance in Asia with other donors, in particular Japan, and to set down common guidelines for expenditure and the monitoring of efficient outcomes;

Civil Society/Human Rights

29.  Stresses that, by virtue of the cooperation agreements between the European Union, Vietnam and Laos, respect for democratic principles and human, civil and political rights by the authorities of these countries can no longer be seen as a question solely regarding Laos or Vietnam, but must become a matter of direct concern to the Union and its citizens; regrets that the Commission has generally side-stepped this problem, including in the recent strategy papers it has drawn up on these countries;

30.  Endorses the Communication's focus on the need to strengthen and broaden intellectual contacts and partnerships (between parliamentarians, local authorities, NGOs, youth associations, consumer groups, etc.) but asks whether this emphasis on involving civil society is shared by all Asian nations;

31.  Takes note of the fact that the Communication was published before the events of 11 September; is cognisant of the fact that all countries in the region condemned the appalling attacks of 11 September 2001; notes with concern, however, that these attacks also had the effect of eclipsing many of the human rights issues which had dominated the first nine months of the year, and that a number of governments found, in measures to counteract terrorism, new justifications for long-standing repression and undermining internationally agreed standards of human rights protection;

32.  Supports the Indonesian government in its efforts to improve relations between the Christian minorities in Indonesia and the Muslim movement, but is concerned at the increase in Muslim fundamentalist cells, such as those of the Laskar Jihad, in various regions of Indonesia;

33.  Calls on the Chinese Government to abolish the death penalty and to declare a moratorium on the execution of persons already sentenced to death; urges China to eliminate all human rights abuses and to lift restrictions on the media and freedom of expression;

34.  Welcomes the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the National League for Democracy in Burma, but regrets that no steps have been taken to introduce democracy in the country; urges the Burmese military to speed up the process of political dialogue with a view to transferring governmental power to the democratically elected NLD, and to lift restrictions on freedom of expression and to release all prisoners of conscience;

35.  Welcomes the fact that the EU is engaged in human rights dialogues with a number of countries (e.g. China and, recently, the DPRK) and that these are an instrument of the EU's external policy; recognises the fact that progress can appear stunted as it is frequently confined within limited parameters owing to resistance from states with authoritarian tendencies; notes, nonetheless, that the presence of a dialogue is preferable to its absence, but that this must aim to go beyond mere "diplomacy"; supports the EU's ongoing dialogue with, among others, the DPRK, and urges it to engage further with other countries as well;

36.  Calls on the Commission to confront, resolutely and without delay, under its policy of "critical dialogue" on human rights with the People's Republic of China, the problem of respect for trade union rights, rights which the Beijing authorities persist in failing to respect despite the PRC's membership of the WTO;

37.  In view of the ongoing democratisation in a number of Asian countries, recognises in particular the importance of the democratic process in Taiwan and the results of the December 2001 parliamentary elections, and emphasises that a peaceful resolution to the Taiwan question is crucial if political and economic stability in the region are to be maintained; urges the Council and Member States of the EU to honour their commitment to the fundamental rights of freedom to travel and therefore to issue visas to the President and all high-ranking officials of Taiwan for private visits to the European Union;

38.  Recognises the need to cooperate closely with Asia in multilateral organisations, for example in combating AIDS/HIV in the region through the WHO, and therefore believes that all democracies in Asia, including Taiwan as an observer, should be able to participate in the WHO; also welcomes the recent accession of China and Taiwan to the WTO;

Globalisation/poverty reduction

39.  Welcomes the suggestion in the Communication that the EU should enhance market access for the poorest developing countries (e.g. the "Everything But Arms" initiative) and its focus on poverty reduction;

40.  Welcomes the achievements of the Asia-Europe Foundation in bringing together citizens of both continents and calls for a gradual expansion of the resources of the Foundation as cooperation deepens;

41.  Reaffirms the extreme importance it attaches to all measures designed to combat the greenhouse effect, and calls on the Council and Commission to propose to the countries of Asia new joint initiatives which take account of the specific needs of developing countries;

42.  Highlights the importance, when setting new objectives and priorities, of the common principles in the fight against poverty, good governance and respect for fundamental rights, the environment and the world trade order;

Conclusions

43.  Reiterates its longstanding support for the ASEP process and calls for parallel, prior ASEP meetings before ASEM Summits to allow for parliamentary discussion and oversight; therefore agrees to consider hosting ASEP III prior to ASEM V in Hanoi in 2004;

44.  Reiterates its call, now more valid than ever, for a change in attitude towards Asia, based on the realisation of the need for a mutually respectful partnership with Asian nations; stresses that such a partnership should be based on respect for human rights, which are the foundation for stable relations between nations;

45.  Urges the Members of the ASEM process to continue and intensify the political dialogue on human rights, democracy and the rule of law so that the common basis for cooperation among the Member States and towards third countries is strengthened;

46.  States, in conclusion, the need for the EU to be seen as a credible partner, one moderated by the necessary balance, consistency and commitment in its opening-up of further avenues towards greater East-West coherence;

o
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47.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the governments of the Asian countries.

(1) OJ C 166, 3.7.1995, p. 64. (2) OJ C 223, 8.8.2001, p. 330. (3) OJ C 53 E, 28.2.2002, p. 227. (4) OJ C 262, 18.9.2001, p. 169. (5) OJ C 47 E, 21.2.2002, p. 217. (6) OJ C 177 E, 25.7.2002, p. 136. (7) Council Conclusions (GAC), 27.12.2001.