The EU and ASEAN have diverging priorities in climate, security, technology, trade, and democracy. Stronger cooperation in these fields would enable the two blocs to tackle shared challenges and pursue common interests.
The outcome of Russia’s war on Ukraine will determine who sets the political and economic rules for the coming decades. At stake is the rules-based international order.
Although China’s top diplomat Wang Yi sought to improve relations with the EU on his most recent trip to Europe, differences between the two powers remain stark. China has not condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Beijing's recent twelve-point position paper on the war has been criticized by the EU and its member states.
The EU’s economic clout makes it an important partner for both Washington and Beijing. But Europe lacks internal unity to effectively respond to U.S.-Chinese competition.
The 2021 Global Assembly was an attempt to create a citizen-led governance chamber that connected institutions, civil society, and grassroots communities. Making this format permanent would allow global citizens to be actively involved in long-term decisions on climate change.
In a year dominated by the rhetoric of defending democracy, EU democracy support policies were adjusted in important ways to align with the new geopolitical context. However, the union also seemed to treat commitments in this area as second-order priorities compared to security.
The European Union has labeled China as a cooperation partner, an economic competitor, and a systemic rival but is struggling to implement policies that account for the complexities of this relationship.
