EU announces new development cooperation projects with ASEAN to support sustainable urbanisation, forest management and government accountability
EU announces new development cooperation projects with ASEAN to support sustainable urbanisation, forest management and government accountability
Today (13/8), the European Union (EU) Ambassador to ASEAN, H.E. Mr Igor Driesmans, announced three new development cooperation projects with ASEAN for a total amount of EUR 13 million. These projects will support smart and sustainable urbanisation, sustainable forest management, and ASEAN Supreme Audit Institutions.
The EU is ASEAN’s most significant partner in development cooperation, supporting the region with EUR 250 million for regional integration programmes between 2014-2020, in addition to EUR 2 billion in bilateral support to ASEAN Member States. Important priority areas of cooperation are green growth, climate change and the environment.
The new projects starting in 2020 will:
- support sustainable urbanisation, focusing on smart solutions enabled by digitalisation and the use of technologies (Smart Green ASEAN cities, EUR 5 million)
- support forest governance and sustainable timber licencing and trade across the region (FLEGT, EUR 5 million)
- strengthen regional capacity and raise awareness and implementation of international standards of Supreme Audit Institutions (ASEANSAI, EUR 3 million)
“I am very happy to announce today the start of three new EU-ASEAN cooperation programmes. The programmes will benefit the citizens of ASEAN by supporting smart and green cities, sustainable resource management in forestry, and transparency and accountability of governments. With this announcement, the EU and ASEAN show their strong commitment to enhance their partnership and cooperation despite the Coronavirus pandemic, and the resulting global economic uncertainties. In these difficult times, we show that cooperation, not isolation, is the way forward to address today’s urgent challenges including climate change and the coronavirus pandemic, said H.E. Mr Igor Driesmans, EU Ambassador to ASEAN.
In direct response to the global coronavirus pandemic, the EU has earlier mobilised a “Team Europe” package of over €800 million to assist ASEAN and its Member States to address the immediate health crisis, and strengthen health, water and sanitation systems, as well as mitigate socio-economic impacts (see https://europa.eu/!qu97Yt).
The announcement of the new projects was made during the opening of the 3rd ASEAN-EU Cooperation and Scholarships Day, a virtual event highlighting connectivity in higher education as a key thematic area of EU-ASEAN cooperation. The event was jointly opened by the Secretary-General of ASEAN, H.E. Mr Dato’ Lim Jock Hoi, together with Singapore’s Permanent Representative to ASEAN, H.E. Ms Kok Li Peng, and the EU Ambassador to ASEAN, H.E. Igor Driesmans.
"The annual convening of this event since 2018, even amidst the still ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrates the strong commitment of both ASEAN and the European Union to strengthen our cooperation in education. The EU has been ASEAN’s partner for 43 years. Over these past four decades, we have been steadfastly working together to fully realise an inclusive, sustainable, resilient, and dynamic ASEAN Community,” said H.E. Mr Dato’ Lim Jock Hoi.
“Today we celebrate the enduring people-to-people ties between our regions. Despite the pandemic we have found ways to continue cooperation and building our relations. But now, students at all levels must contemplate disruptions or major changes in their pursuit of knowledge. I would like to express heartfelt appreciation to the EU for continuing to work with ASEAN on development and scholarships”, said H.E. Kok Li Peng.
At the ASEAN-EU Cooperation and Scholarships Day, representatives from the EU, ASEAN and their Member States are exhibiting and presenting opportunities to study abroad as well as available scholarships, ranging from undergraduate to graduate and doctoral programmes. EU-ASEAN development cooperation projects are also showcasing their activities. Due to the current coronavirus pandemic and associated public health regulations, this year’s ASEAN-EU Cooperation and Scholarships Day takes place virtually over two days (Thursday 13 and Friday 14 August).
This virtual exhibition fair attracted a total of 2,027 registrants which mainly consisted of youth across ASEAN and 22 participating exhibitors who provide various scholarship programmes available in ASEAN and EU.
***
See the Summary of the EU-ASEAN Blue Book 2020 for more information about EU-ASEAN Cooperation Projects.