Advancing the EU's strategy for cooperation in the Indo-Pacific

THE vibrant Indo-Pacific region is a strategic priority for the European Union (EU) and for France.

In 2018, France became the first EU member state to present a strategy for the Indo-Pacific region.

Holding the presidency of the Council of the EU for the first half of this year, France has set ambitious and long-term goals.

On Tuesday (Feb 22), the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, Josep Borrell Fontelles, will co-organise in Paris a Ministerial Forum for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.

Bringing together European and Indo-Pacific ministers, this forum aims to deepen dialogue on the implementation of the EU Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.

As a vital actor in Asean - and centrally located in this vast region - Singapore is a key partner of the EU. Singapore's Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan will co-chair with the EU Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen, the panel on connectivity and digital technologies during this ministerial forum. This further demonstrates the strength of our ties.

Comprehensive and inclusive strategy

The EU released its Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific in 2021. Since then, it has substantially increased engagement in the region, with the aim to contribute to its stability, security, prosperity and sustainable development, while building strong and lasting partnerships.

The EU's approach is designed to foster a rules-based order that supports sustainable connectivity, ensuring a level playing field as well as an open and fair environment for trade and investment. It is one of cooperation as an alternative to the spheres-of-influence logic.

This renewed commitment to the region is inclusive of all partners wishing to cooperate with the EU. We will adapt this cooperation to specific areas where partners share principles, values or mutual interest. In this context, the Ministerial Forum for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific focuses on the 3 main priorities in the EU Strategy: security and defence, connectivity and digital technology, and global challenges (climate, biodiversity and health).

Shared commitments

Asean and the EU have a shared interest in promoting multilateralism. France will further support the common EU objective to become the first climate-neutral continent.

The French presidency will offer the opportunity to discuss the implementation of the Team Europe Initiative for Asean focusing on addressing climate-related issues, backed by an initial 30 million euro (S$46 million) grant from the EU budget. This action will strengthen the EU's ties with Asean in areas including climate action, environmental and biodiversity protection, clean energy transition, disaster resilience, prevention of illegal logging, wildlife trafficking and air pollution.

Ambitious projects in connectivity and digital areas will also be discussed at the forum. These include the future digital market regulation and digital services regulation.

The EU is a key partner for Indo-Pacific countries on norms and standards for quality infrastructures and digital issues, including 5G and protection of personal data.

The forum will seek synergies with EU's Global Gateway. Through Global Gateway, the EU will work with partners to promote sustainable investments for people and the planet.

It will boost smart, clean and secure links in digital, energy and transport and strengthen health, education and research systems across the world.

Global Gateway aims at mobilising up to 300 billion euros globally in sustainable infrastructures between 2021 and 2027 to underpin a lasting recovery, taking into account our partners' needs and the EU's own interests.

Singapore and the EU are committed to maritime security and are key partners in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief in South-east Asia. The EU will present the Coordinated Maritime Presence concept during the forum: these naval deployments by EU member states aim at helping to protect the sea lines of communication and freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific while boosting partners' capacity to ensure maritime security.

Digital transformation

Strengthening connectivity and digital cooperation is a priority for both the EU and Singapore. The EU is committed to deepening digital cooperation with like-minded partners in the Indo-Pacific region such as Singapore, making it a key partner for the EU in this field.

Last June, the Comprehensive Air Transport Agreement, the world's first bloc-to-bloc air transport agreement was concluded between the EU and Asean. Singapore remains the EU's most important economic partner in the region.

In 2019, the EU and Singapore signed the landmark EU-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (EUSFTA), widely hailed as "a path-finder deal", for the region.

In December 2021, EU Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis and Singapore's Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations and Transport Minister S Iswaran met in Brussels at the EUSFTA Trade Committee meeting and announced that the EU and Singapore are ready to take their economic cooperation to the next level by pursuing a comprehensive digital partnership.

In a joint press statement on Feb 14, EU Commissioner Thierry Breton and Minister Iswaran agreed to accelerate steps towards a comprehensive and forward-looking digital partnership between the EU and Singapore. This will further deepen digital ties and expand bilateral trade and investments, ensuring that workers and businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, benefit from opportunities in the growing global digital economy.

This would pave the way for cooperation in additional areas, such as research and innovation. Singapore is an innovation powerhouse. Through its Indo-Pacific Strategy, the EU intends to start talks with the city-state about the bloc's comprehensive research framework programme Horizon Europe which puts green and digital transition at its core.

The EU will further catalyse its presence in the Indo-Pacific with concrete and ambitious projects. There are several exciting growth areas for the future which result in closer consultations, deeper engagements and greater support for multilateral action. This is clearly embodied by the organisation of an inclusive ministerial forum.

The EU and France look forward to increasing collaboration with our partners in the Indo-Pacific region, including Singapore, during the French presidency.

• Marc Abensour is the French Ambassador to Singapore. Iwona Piorko is the European Union Ambassador to Singapore.