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European Council      14/11/2017  Press statement of the ASEAN-EU commemorative summit on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the establishment of ASEAN-EU dialogue relations We, the Heads of State and Government of the Member States of ASEAN, the President of the European Council and the Secretary-General of ASEAN, have gathered in Manila on the 14th of November 2017, to participate in an ASEAN-European Union (EU) Commemorative Summit, marking the 40th anniversary of the establishment of ASEAN-EU Dialogue Relations. We recognize the positive contributions that ASEAN and the EU, as two of the world's most advanced and successful regional organisations, have made to peace, security, stability, inclusive growth and sustainable development of Southeast Asia, Europe and the world, as well as in addressing global challenges and reinforcing regionalism and multilateralism. We emphasise the importance of the shared values and common interests that bind the two regions in a long-standing and unique relationship as “partners in integration”, such as the principles of mutual respect for the independence, sovereignty, equality and territorial integrity for all states, and including other principles of the United Nations (UN) Charter, international law and the Treaty of Amity and  Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), to which the EU acceded in 2012. We underline the importance of the respect of the rule of law, sovereignty and territorial integrity of States, maritime security and safety, freedom of navigation and overflight, and peaceful resolution of disputes, in accordance with the universally recognized principles of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the relevant standards and recommendations of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO). We intend to accelerate efforts towards a Strategic Partnership between the EU and ASEAN by strengthening all areas of dialogue and cooperation. We welcome the recent adoption of the new ASEAN-EU Plan of Action 2018-2022 and the Joint Statement on the Paris Agreement: Reaffirming Commitment to Cooperation to Address the Shared Challenge of Climate Change. We also welcome the participation of the President of the European Council as Guest of the East Asia Summit (EAS) Chair for the first time. The EU reiterates its support for ASEAN centrality in the evolving regional architecture in East Asia and its appreciation for ASEAN’s role as the driving force for, and its important contribution to, promoting dialogue, moderation and cooperation for peace, security, stability and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. ASEAN welcomes the interest of the EU in furthering engagement with the region through all ASEAN-led processes. The EU reiterates its support for the ASEAN Community Vision 2025: Forging Ahead Together towards a rules-based, people-oriented, people-centred Community. We reaffirm the importance of enhancing the strategic connectivity and the economic partnership between ASEAN and the EU with the aim to increasing trade and investment between the two regions based on transparency, openness and sustainability, for the benefit of the people and reaffirm their commitment to concluding an ambitious and forward-looking ASEAN-EU Comprehensive Air Transport Agreement that reflects ASEAN’s and the EU’s shared vision and aspirations and to intensify work towards the resumption of the ASEAN-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations, noting the status of the bilateral FTAs between several ASEAN Member States and the EU. We reaffirm the commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and to promoting and protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms, the rule of law, gender equality and women's empowerment, as well as ending all forms of poverty. We value EU-ASEAN development cooperation across the three pillars of the ASEAN Community, with the EU doubling its financial support for this purpose. This includes current programmes such as the Enhanced-Regional EU ASEAN Dialogue Instrument Human Rights Facility (E-READI HRF), the ASEAN Regional Integration Support from the EU-Plus (ARISE-Plus), the EU Support to Higher Education in ASEAN Region (EU-SHARE), the Sustainable Use of Peatland and Haze Mitigation in ASEAN (SUPA) and the Biodiversity Conservation and Management of Protected Areas in ASEAN (BCAMP). We reaffirm the importance of people-to-people contacts and linkages involving, among others, youth, media, academics, think-tank institutions, parliamentary bodies and civil societies; promote cooperation on education as well as encourage mobility of students and academics between ASEAN and the EU higher education institutions; and enhance cooperation in science, technology and innovation. We reaffirm our support to one another's regional integration and community-building efforts. We resolve to work together to reinforce an inclusive and rules-based international order and to support the effective functioning of regional and multilateral institutions. Issued on 14 November 2017, Manila 14/11/2017 | STATEMENTS AND REMARKS Remarks by President Donald Tusk at the ASEAN-EU commemorative summit in Manila Opening remarks Thank you very much for your warm welcome, Mr President. I am honoured to be here today to celebrate 40 years of ASEAN-EU friendship. I would like to thank the Philippines' Presidency of ASEAN for convening this Summit and Thailand as coordinator for ASEAN's dialogue with the EU. Over four decades, ASEAN and the European Union have forged a relationship of which we can rightly be proud. The potential for greater engagement is enormous. From trade to climate, from maritime security to counter-terrorism, together we can make our two regions stronger. Like the EU, ASEAN is vital for stability in a challenging regional context and a time of geopolitical volatility. We both believe in rules-based multilateralism as opposed to geo-political spheres of influence. The European Union fully supports ASEAN's efforts and its mission. We are working towards a Strategic Partnership, to encompass not only trade, investment and sectoral cooperation, but also more security cooperation. The new ASEAN-EU Plan of Action contributes to this goal. We remain committed to a strong and cohesive ASEAN, developing in its own character, in the best interests of regional prosperity, stability and security. Further enhancing our relations based on common interests and the shared values of democracy, human rights and rule of law, is a priority for the EU. Many of our interests coincide, as do many of the challenges we face. Forty years on, I am personally very glad we have the ASEAN-EU ready and available as a bridge between Asia and Europe in troubling times. If we look at security issues, it is evident how close our regions have become. Most crises today have a global impact. Conflicts in the EU's neighbourhood have an impact on markets and societies elsewhere, including here in South East Asia. And tensions and radicalisation in the Asia-Pacific can destabilise the world well beyond your region. Terrorist ideologies have spread across continents. We can mitigate this threat if we work together, sharing information on suspects and trends of concern. ASEAN and the EU are already developing anti-terror co-operation through information sharing via Interpol and Europol and the exchange of best practices on dealing with violent extremism. We in Europe are grateful to be able to draw on the considerable experience ASEAN countries have on this issue. Beyond counter-terrorism, we have co-operated since 2012 on tackling a variety of other threats. Last June, we had ASEAN representatives visiting the headquarters of the EU's anti-smuggling naval mission Operation Sophia, which targets people smugglers and trafficking networks in the Mediterranean. Be it in the fight against piracy, against illegal and unregulated fishing or any other type of transnational criminality at sea, the EU has a strong record and know-how that we are sharing with ASEAN partners. ASEAN and the EU are both economic powers. Free and fair trade is and always will be in our DNA. The bilateral trade agreements between the European Union and Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand will be the stepping stones towards a future region-to-region trade agreement that can set a new standard for global trade. Today, EU investors are the leading providers of foreign direct investment to ASEAN countries. As was presented yesterday at the ASEAN Business Summit, EU investment rose by 46 percent in the last year, making our investment in ASEAN more than that of the US and Japan combined. This transfers know-how, technology and management systems that boost productivity in ASEAN. Our relationship is also about investing in people. Each year over 1,300 ASEAN students and staff from universities receive scholarships and almost 600 European students and staff travel to ASEAN countries under the EU's Erasmus+ programme. Here is one area where, for sure, the best investment in the future is to do more so that more talented students and researchers can be exchanged between our regions, and that we both reap the huge cultural benefits of global tourism. Last but not least, I would like to thank you all – and the Philippines in particular – for inviting the European Union to attend the East Asia Summit today as your guest. The East Asia Summit plays an important role in promoting cooperation and trust in the region. We look forward to contributing to this work, as a partner and as a friend. Thank you. 14/11/2017  Declaration by the High Representative Federica Mogherini on behalf of the European Union on President Al-Bashir's visit to Uganda The European Union and its Member States regret the visit of President Omar Al-Bashir to Uganda, a State party to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC). The EU calls upon all Member States of the United Nations to abide by and implement the resolutions adopted by the Security Council under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, notably UNSCR 1593(2005). The EU urges Uganda to respect its obligations under international law and as a State Party to the ICC. The European Union is committed to enforcing international criminal law and to ending impunity and remains a staunch supporter of the ICC. 13/11/2017 | STATEMENTS AND REMARKS Letter of congratulations from President Donald Tusk to Borut Pahor on his re-election as President of the Republic of Slovenia It is my pleasure to extend my wholehearted congratulations on your victory in yesterday's presidential election in Slovenia. I am certain that during your second term as President of Slovenia you will continue to promote cooperation, dialogue and reconciliation, essential for the stability and prosperity of the region as well as the whole of Europe. On behalf of the European Council and personally, I wish you every success in your work. Given the challenges of modern times, I count particularly on your experience and determination in aiming to build a stable and safe regional neighbourhood. I have the firm conviction that also thanks to your presidency, Slovenia will continue to contribute to the development of the European Union. I look forward to continuing to work closely with you. 13/11/2017  Security and defence cooperation: Council highlights the significant progress made Today, foreign affairs ministers and defence ministers had a joint discussion on the implementation of the EU Global Strategy in the area of security and defence. The Council then adopted conclusions on security and defence in the context of the EU Global Strategy.  The Council conclusions highlight the significant progress achieved in strengthening cooperation in the area of security and defence, including: the permanent structured cooperation (PESCO), on which a joint notification  by member states expressing their intention to participate was signed and handed over to the High Representative and the Council in the margins of the Foreign Affairs Council,   Under the Lisbon Treaty, EU member states can strengthen their cooperation in military matters by establishing permanent structured cooperation (Article 42(6) and Article 46 TEU and Protocol 10). the European defence fund, which was proposed by the European Commission in June 2017, The European defence fund aims to foster innovation and allow economies of scale in the defence research and in the industrial development phase by supporting collaborative projects, thus reinforcing the competitiveness of the EU defence industry. A preparatory action on defence research is already ongoing, and the co-legislators are currently negotiating a Commission proposal for the establishment of a European Defence Industrial Development Fund (EDIDP). the coordinated annual review on defence (CARD), for which a trial run is being conducted by the European Defence Agency. CARD's aim is to establish a process to obtain a better overview of national defence spending plans. This would make it possible to better address European capability shortfalls, deepen defence cooperation and ensure optimal use and coherence of defence spending plans. The conclusions also touch upon other strands of work in the field of EU security and defence, including improving military mobility, priorities for civilian crisis management, responsiveness of civilian missions, situational awareness, the common financing of military CSDP missions and operations, in particular the review of the Athena mechanism, cyber defence and capacity building in support of security and development.  Background One year ago, on 14 November 2016, the Council adopted conclusions on implementing the EU Global Strategy in the area of security and defence. These conclusions set out the level of ambition, that is to say the main goals the EU and its member states will aim to achieve in the area of security and defence. The Council set out three strategic priorities: responding to external conflicts and crises, building the capacities of partners, and protecting the European Union and its citizens. Progress was noted and further guidance provided through Council conclusions on 6 March 2017 and on 18 May 2017. Security and defence is one of the priority areas for work on the implementation of the EU Global Strategy, which also includes building resilience and an integrated approach to conflicts and crises, strengthening the nexus between internal and external policies, updating existing or preparing new regional and thematic strategies and stepping up public diplomacy efforts.