Jakarta (ANTARA) – The European Union-ASEAN Business Council (EU-ABC) has called on leaders from both regions to establish a flagship partnership on the ASEAN Power Grid (APG) and create structured cooperation to advance Southeast Asia’s regional economic integration.
The proposed partnership would entail technical and financial support from the European Union to implement the grid, leveraging the EU’s extensive experience in developing interconnected electricity systems and European funding projects.
“To date, 105 million euros (US$117 million) in grant funding has been allocated to various Team Europe initiatives on sustainable connectivity and the green transition,” Executive Director of EU-ABC Chris Humphrey said in a statement released here on Wednesday.
The business council envisions the power grid partnership as one of three headline outcomes to mark the 50th anniversary of ASEAN-EU relations in 2027. The other two goals include building a region-to-region economic architecture and strengthening resilient trusted regional systems.
Humphrey expressed hope that the upcoming milestone will yield not only commercial rewards but also broad economic benefits to uplift communities across Southeast Asia.
“The 50th anniversary of ASEAN-EU relations should not be merely symbolic. It must focus on delivering tangible outcomes in order to build a trusted, long-lasting partnership that is rooted in practical cooperation,” he noted.
Beyond the three headline outcomes, the council stressed the need for greater high-level political engagement between the two blocs. Humphrey pointed out that while there has been a slight uptick in recent years, leader-level engagement with ASEAN counterparts remains limited.
“We urge the EU to considerably increase its high-level presence at ASEAN forums and extend political engagement to a wider range of sectors, including digital, finance, energy, and health, among others,” he said.
Chairman of EU-ABC Jens Ruebbert added that the council is also advocating for the establishment of a region-to-region free trade agreement (FTA).
According to the EU-ABC’s latest Business Sentiment Survey, nearly three-quarters (74 percent) of European business respondents believe an ASEAN-wide FTA would deliver greater benefits than bilateral agreements with individual Southeast Asian countries.
Furthermore, almost half (49 percent) would like to see negotiations for a regional FTA launched next year to coincide with the 50th anniversary of bilateral relations.
Currently, the EU only has FTAs in place with Singapore and Vietnam. Agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines have concluded and are pending ratification, while talks with Thailand and Malaysia remain ongoing.
“We strongly believe a regional deal would provide a competitive edge for European and Southeast Asian companies alike, bringing trade and investment to a level that reflects the scale and strategic importance of the ASEAN-EU relationship,” Ruebbert concluded.
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Reporter: Uyu Septiyati Liman
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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