EU-Vietnam: 3rd Joint Committee

The third meeting of the EU-Vietnam Joint Committee under the EU-Vietnam Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) took place in Hanoi on 28 April 2022.

The EU informed Vietnam about the EU Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific adopted in 2021 and referred to the successful Indo-Pacific Ministerial Meeting held in Paris on 22 February, which should serve as an excellent basis for further strengthening of our cooperation. 

The EU and Vietnam discussed a broad range of topics in their bilateral relationship, including security and defence cooperation, trade and investment, sustainable development, climate change and the sustainable energy transition, fisheries and deforestation, as well as good governance, the rule of law and human rights.

Support for international law and the rules-based international order, good governance, the rule of law and human rights are essential elements of the EU-Vietnam relationship. The EU expressed its concern as regards the shrinking space for civil society and constraints on freedom of expression, association and assembly.

The EU and Vietnam exchanged views on recent regional security developments, where they agreed on the need to find peaceful solutions to conflicts, while respecting the principles of international law and the UN Charter. They discussed the potential for enhancing security cooperation, inter alia, in the areas of maritime security, cybersecurity and crisis management. The EU reiterated its gratitude for Vietnam’s decision to deploy two officers to the EU Training Mission in the Central African Republic.

Grave concerns were expressed over Russia’s war in Ukraine. It was reiterated that conflicts have to be resolved by peaceful means and with respect for the United Nations Charter and international law, including the principles of sovereignty and respect for the independence and territorial integrity of states, and without the threat or use of force. It is imperative to immediately cease hostilities to avoid further civilian casualties, and to allow safe and unhindered access to humanitarian assistance for those in need. The EU reiterated its strong condemnation of the Russian aggression against Ukraine and its people and called for the immediate withdrawal of all Russian military forces from the territory of Ukraine.

They also discussed EU-ASEAN relations and the situation in Myanmar. As regards the South China Sea, they reaffirmed the importance of peace, security, stability and freedom of navigation and overflight. Both sides expressed concern at recent developments and underscored the importance of abiding by international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The EU and Vietnam welcomed progress in trade relations under the Free Trade Agreement, despite challenges posed by the Covid pandemic, and pledged to work together to boost sustainable and inclusive prosperity and post-Covid economic recovery in Europe and South East Asia. In this context, they also looked forward to the entry into force of the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement.

The EU welcomed Vietnam’s commitment to become climate neutral by 2050. Both sides reiterated their intention to strengthen cooperation on climate change and the green energy transition in the context of the EU’s development cooperation with Vietnam, and as part of a possible future Just Energy Transition Partnership. The EU stressed the need for an inclusive participation of all stakeholders.

The EU and Vietnam discussed their cooperation on combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and reducing deforestation and unsustainable forest management, in the context of the EU-Vietnam Voluntary Partnership Agreement on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade and the European Commission’s proposal for a regulation on deforestation-free products.

They also exchanged views on the focal sectors of the EU-Vietnam development cooperation programme 2021-2027, notably as regards a climate responsive digital circular economy, responsible entrepreneurship and enhanced skills for decent employment, and strengthening governance, the rule of law and institutional reforms.

They agreed to organise the next Sub-Committee on Good Governance, Rule of Law and Human Rights and the next Security and Defence dialogue in the coming months. They looked forward to the fourth EU-Vietnam Joint Committee to be held in Brussels in 2023.

Mr Ha Kim Ngoc, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam and Mr Gunnar Wiegand, Managing Director for Asia and Pacific in the European External Action Service, co-chaired the meeting.