Europe’s focus on Asean and wider Asia-Pacific to grow

AS EUROPE enters a big election year, the region’s domestic politics are “freezing up” in anticipation of the big ballots ahead, inside and outside the European Union. However, much foreign policy activity is under way that may significantly reshape global politics in the year ahead.

In the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the EU is conducting a fundamental reappraisal of its global relationships. In Latin America, for instance, Brussels still holds out a possibility that a major trade and investment deal can be reached in the first quarter of this year with Mercosur (Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay). Chief negotiators from the two blocs are hoping to meet in Brazil on Jan 25 and 26 in the latest bid to try to finalise the agreement that has been over two decades in the making.

Yet, it is another emerging markets-rich area of the world that will also be a key focal point for the EU in 2024. This includes on Feb 2, which will see the EU-Asia-Pacific forum and the EU-Asean ministerial meeting.