ON June 23, 2016, close to 52 per cent of British electors voted for Brexit. Peter Ricketts, former United Kingdom ambassador to France, called Brexit a "true disaster" during the Rencontres Economiques d'Aix-en Provence Forum held shortly after. Shaken, the European Union is searching for a new path forward while coping with turbulence affecting the world economy. Donald Trump's recent election to the United States presidency reinforces the growing influence of populism, nativism, and protectionism in global politics. We face many challenges ahead: an ageing world population, a slowdown in productivity, digital disruption, and fast-growing inequality. How can the world surmount these massive challenges without international collaboration of the highest quality?

The Rencontres Economiques forum, held outside France for the very first time in Singapore at ESSEC Business School's Asia-Pacific campus, aims to promote an international dialogue between global thought leaders to find solutions to the problems of our time. Withdrawing into the proverbial shell is not the right solution. Our world will change, upheaval will follow, and countries worldwide cannot passively give in to nativist sentiments. The EU, in particular, must overcome internal struggles, and commit itself to identify new opportunities created by the British departure and American situation, notably by turning towards Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

Asia is already a key focus for the EU, with Singapore being France's leading trade partner within Asean. However, implementation of the EU-Singapore free trade agreement, finalised in 2014, has been delayed by a conflict between the European Commission and the European Council and is awaiting arbitration from the EU Court of Justice. Blocking the free trade agreement - the first between the EU and an Asean member - would be regrettable given that Asean is the EU's third largest trading partner and represents nearly 600 million consumers.