Strenghtening of (Inter-)regional Integration

The role of the Office for Regional Cooperation in Asia based in Singapore is to support the social dimension of Asian cooperation and integration within the framework of the ASEM process, with regard to the regional organisations ASEAN and SAARC. We also support the Asia-Europe dialogue and partnership activities in the ASEAN member states Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar, where there are no FES offices based in these countries. The office’s activities include dialogue programs, international and regional conferences (e.g. on economic and social policy, regional integration and comprehensive security), Asia-Europe exchanges, research, as well as programs with trade unions.

The Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) was established in 1996, with Singapore driving the initiative. It provides a platform for dialogue between Asia and Europe and facilitates multilateral talks on economic, political, educational, cultural, environmental and climate cooperation. Participants in this dialogue comprise of the ASEAN member states, the European Union, China, India, Japan, Mongolia, Pakistan and South Korea as well as the ASEAN Secretariat and the European Commission. The most dynamic forces in the ASEM process are ASEAN, the EU Commission and the Presidency of the EU Council.

ASEAN had adopted the ASEAN Charter by the end of 2008. This provides the basis for further regional integration and encouraged ASEAN to accelerate the establishment of the ASEAN Community by five years. In 2015, the ASEAN Political-Security Community Blueprint, the ASEAN Economic Community Blueprint and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Blueprint shall be implemented. The ASEAN member states are committed to the Roadmap for an ASEAN Community (2009-2015) which was signed in March 2009.

FES accompanies the process of regional integration with a focus on its social dimension. The regional integration program of FES comprises three topics:

Human Security / Security Sector Governance Reform
Non-traditional aspects of security such as poverty, migration and natural disasters have increasingly complemented the ASEM security dialogue and are of equal importance in ASEAN. They have taken on a greater role in security studies i.e. as control mechanism in issues of natural disasters or terrorism. The parliamentary dimension in security sector reforms in Asian states has to be gradually considered and the deficit of democratic control in the security sector has to be improved.

Social Dimension of Regional Integration
(European Experiences, Migration Regime, Social Justice)
With the new competencies of the ASEAN Secretariat achieved by the ASEAN-Charter, it is now essential to give the Secretariat a similar importance in the ASEM process. This would be a further contribution to the strengthening of inter-regional dialogue. The EU´s experiences from its integration process, in particular, the discussion and establishment of common standards of social justice are also highly relevant to the ASEAN integration process.

Democracy and Good Governance
(Social Democrats Network, Youth Networks)
Due to often authoritarian structures and the prevailing political culture in Asia, the state is often perceived as having a monopoly on power. However, the promotion of development and the guarantee of social justice are highly increasingly perceived as necessary. In order to promote socially sustainable, democratic and responsible governance it is essential to qualify progressive political forces in the region and create a policy-related exchange network.