The EU, ASEAN and the Challenges of the 21st Century: Conclusions and Recommendations

Abstract

The European Union (EU) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) were both created during the Cold War. They had similar purposes. In a way, it was all about peace. It was about preventing recurring conflicts between member states in their respective regions while facing up to external threats together: security from each other and security from the external world. Although much has changed in the international arena since the creation of the European Communities and ASEAN, much also remains the same. Both organizations still fulfil important security functions in their regions, and both still have an important stake in improving their collaboration to enable them to tackle better the challenges of the 21st century. Yet the picture is not one of unalloyed success, and the future of their relationship is fraught with perils as much as it offers potentialities for cooperation.